‘A new path for Britain’: Andy Burnham becomes seventh UK PM in a decade, promising stability after Starmer exit
Andy Burnham became the 59th Prime Minister of the UK after winning the leadership of the Labor Party unopposed following the resignation of Keir Starmer. He is also the seventh Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in ten years.After Starmer handed in his resignation at Buckingham Palace, Burnham, 56, formally accepted King Charles III’s invitation to form a government. He became prime minister the moment he accepted the king’s invitation, a ceremony traditionally known as the “Kissing of the Hands.”“The former Greater Manchester mayor, nicknamed the “King of the North”, will not meet MPs until Parliament returns from its six-week recess in September, unless he decides to recall the House of Commons early.
Summer “Listening Tour”
Burnham will undertake a “listening tour” of the UK in August when Parliament is recessed. It is understood that areas on his itinerary include Port Talbot in south Wales, where the last steelmaking blast furnace closed in September 2024, resulting in 2,800 job losses during the transition to green steelmaking.Several Welsh Labor MPs told BBC Wales they were aware of Burnham’s intention to visit the town, which was once home to Britain’s largest steelworks.
direct responsibilities
Once appointed, Burnham will immediately begin appointing the cabinet, including senior ministers including the chancellor, foreign secretary and home secretary. His government takes office immediately, without the need for an inauguration or parliamentary confirmation vote.Attention is expected to soon turn to his domestic agenda, with media reports suggesting his first big decision could be to place Thames Water into special administration, putting the company under temporary public control during a restructuring period.
Starmer resigns
Starmer announced on June 22 that he would resign after less than two years in office, amid Labor’s heavy defeat in local elections and political controversies, including his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States despite his links to Jeffrey Epstein.In his final Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer defended his record, citing stronger protections for working people, a reduction in child poverty, laws to stop official cover-ups of tragedies and higher defense spending. “I’m proud to leave this country a better place than when I came here,” he said.Under party rules, candidates must have the support of at least one-fifth of Labor MPs to run. Burnham met that threshold and was elected unopposed with no other candidates running.
Britain’s ‘new path’
In his first speech as Labor leader, Burnham pledged to chart “a new path” for Britain focused on making life more affordable and reducing regional inequality.“Today’s change is the most important moment in our politics in 40 years. It will move us to a country where life is more affordable and where all people and places are freed from the current hardships.”He promised to govern every part of Britain. “I will be the leader of the North, South, East and West, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.”The next general election does not have to wait until 2029, five years after Labor won the 2024 election.
