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Britain’s King Charles III on Monday appointed Andy Burnham as prime minister after outgoing Keir Starmer officially tendered his resignation to the monarch at Buckingham Palace, the palace said.
“Andy Burnham MP accepted The King’s offer and kissed hands upon his appointment as Prime Minister,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement, adding that the King had asked him to form the next government.
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 20, 2026
Burnham, 56, the former mayor of Greater Manchester and a Labour Party MP, becomes Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade.
Earlier on Monday, Starmer left Downing Street for the last time, saying in his farewell speech outside No. 10 that he was confident Britain was “stronger and fairer” than it was two years ago.
“I go with good grace, I go with a smile, and I go proud of everything that we have achieved,” Starmer said.
Starmer’s resignation followed a string of scandals, missteps and policy U-turns that blighted his leadership. He led Labour to a landslide election victory in July 2024 after 14 years of Conservative rule.
Burnham is expected to deliver his first speech as prime minister outside Downing Street later on Monday, setting out his priorities for restoring confidence in government and addressing the cost-of-living crisis.
