Andy Burnham has officially become the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after meeting King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on Monday.
The former Mayor of Greater Manchester took over from Keir Starmer after the outgoing prime minister visited the monarch to formally submit his resignation. Burnham was later invited by King Charles to form a new government, a request he accepted.
Starmer left Downing Street earlier in the day after two years in office, saying his administration had worked to improve the country.
His resignation followed months of political challenges, criticism over government decisions and internal pressure within the Labour Party.
Burnham, aged 56, becomes the sixth person to occupy the position of UK prime minister in the last decade. He is expected to present his plans for the country as he begins his new role.
The new prime minister faces several major issues, including slow economic growth, rising government debt, pressure on public finances and concerns over the increasing number of migrants crossing into the country through small boats.
Burnham has promised a different style of leadership, saying his government would focus more on early action, investment and helping people deal with financial difficulties.
Tackling the cost-of-living crisis is expected to be one of his first priorities.
His first major decision after taking control of Labour was to cancel Starmer’s proposed nationwide digital identity programme, which was estimated to cost billions of pounds.
His team said resources would instead be directed towards areas that could provide immediate support for citizens.
The new prime minister also plans to announce his cabinet members, with attention focused on who will take over as finance minister following the departure of Rachel Reeves.
Burnham returned to Parliament only recently after previously serving as an MP from 2001 to 2017. During that period, he held ministerial positions under former Labour leaders Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
Known by supporters as the “King of the North”, Burnham built a strong public image during his time leading Greater Manchester. He now has the task of rebuilding confidence in Labour ahead of the next general election, expected in 2029.
The Labour leader has described his government as a chance for the party to regain public trust after Starmer’s leadership faced criticism. However, analysts say he will have limited time to deliver results as his administration deals with economic pressure and growing support for opposition parties.
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