As Andy Burnham assumed office as the United Kingdom’s new prime minister, he retained Indian-origin Labour MP Kanishka Narayan as minister for artificial intelligence, elevating the portfolio to a cabinet-level position for the first time.According to Bloomberg, Burnham carried out a major cabinet reshuffle after succeeding Keir Starmer, removing several senior ministers, including technology secretary Liz Kendall, Darren Jones, Rachel Reeves and Peter Kyle.Narayan, who had been serving as Minister for AI and Online Safety since September 2025 under Starmer, is among the few ministers to retain his role in the new government.Taking to X, Narayan said Burnham had asked him to attend Cabinet as minister for AI, calling it “a sign of his deep commitment to AI’s importance.”
From Bihar to Britain’s AI ministry
Born in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur in November 1989, Narayan moved to Cardiff, Wales, with his family at the age of 12. He initially attended Cathays High School before earning a scholarship to Eton College.He later studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Balliol College, University of Oxford, and went on to complete an MBA from Stanford University.
First ethnic minority MP from Wales
Narayan entered Parliament in the 2024 general election, winning the Vale of Glamorgan seat for Labour from the Conservatives and ending the party’s 14-year absence from the constituency.His election also made him the first ethnic minority MP to represent a Welsh constituency.Before joining the government, he served as Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs between July 2024 and September 2025.He was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for AI and Online Safety in September 2025 before being promoted to minister for artificial intelligence in Burnham’s cabinet.
Career beyond politics
Before entering elected politics, Narayan worked as a civil servant in the UK Cabinet Office under David Cameron and later at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs during Liz Truss’s tenure as secretary of state. He also worked in the private sector, advising businesses on financial matters.His public service extends beyond government. Narayan co-founded Attain Wales, a South Wales-based non-profit focused on improving social mobility and educational opportunities.He also launched the “Help Your High Street” campaign during the Covid-19 pandemic, served as a trustee of a Citizens Advice bureau, and was a member of the advisory panel at Chatham House. He has also volunteered with Citizens Advice and The Trussell Trust.
AI policy in focus
Narayan’s appointment comes at a time when Britain’s artificial intelligence strategy is under close international scrutiny.According to Bloomberg, the UK remains home to leading AI companies such as Google DeepMind, ElevenLabs and Wayve, but has faced criticism over policy uncertainty and delays to major digital infrastructure projects, including a proposed OpenAI data centre.Burnham has so far outlined few details of his technology agenda, but he and Narayan are expected to set out the government’s approach to AI as Europe debates technological sovereignty and reducing dependence on AI models developed in the United States.