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Andy Burnham officially became Britain’s new prime minister on Monday, pledging a 10-year plan to ease cost-of-living pressures, rebuild the economy, and restore political stability.
The 56-year-old Labour leader met King Charles III at Buckingham Palace to assume office following Keir Starmer’s resignation.
Arriving at Downing Street as the country’s seventh prime minister since 2016, Burnham signalled a leftward shift for the ruling Labour Party.
He vowed to end rough sleeping, expand public housing, re-industrialise the nation, and place essential services under stronger public control to increase affordability.
Burnham quickly engaged in international diplomacy, holding a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump shortly after entering office and affirming full support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
European leaders, including EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, also extended congratulations and expressed interest in deepening UK-EU partnerships.
The former Greater Manchester mayor assumes power amid significant economic and political headwinds, including slow economic growth, high borrowing costs, and rising support for the Reform UK party.
Burnham faces an overflow of domestic challenges as he finalises his cabinet appointments ahead of the next scheduled general election in 2029.
