Burnham becomes UK PM
Andy Burnham formally assumed office as the United Kingdom’s prime minister on Monday after being invited by King Charles III to form a government, pledging to restore political stability and provide relief to households struggling with the cost of living.
Burnham’s appointment follows the resignation of Keir Starmer, who formally stepped down at Buckingham Palace after serving as prime minister for two years. Burnham was elected unopposed as leader of the governing Labour
Party on Friday, according to Reuters.
Speaking outside 10 Downing Street after meeting the King, Burnham acknowledged the political instability Britain has experienced in recent years.
“I have just come from Buckingham Palace, where I have accepted His Majesty the King’s invitation to form a government,” he said.
“I am acutely conscious that I am the sixth person in the last ten years to walk up this street. The seventh prime minister since 2016, making this a moment for reflection and new resolution.”
Burnham succeeds Starmer, who led Labour to a landslide general election victory before resigning two years into his premiership. His appointment makes him Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade.
Outlining his priorities, Burnham said his government would pursue wide-ranging political and economic reforms aimed at restoring confidence in government and strengthening long-term economic resilience.
“Britain needs to show the world that we can regain our stability once again, and that is our challenge: to make politics work, to make it work better,” he said.
“We will make this moment a circuit breaker for Britain, bringing forward the biggest changes in the last 40 years. A new political model and a new economic model.”
The new prime minister said the government would use public procurement policies to support the reindustrialisation of the country and would present a comprehensive 10-year national strategy later this year.
“Later this year, I will bring forward a new plan for Britain, a 10-year plan,” he said.
Burnham also pledged early measures to ease cost-of-living pressures, saying details of the package, including how it would be financed, would be announced as soon as Tuesday.
“I can do something to give people some breathing space now, some help with the cost of living. And I will set out some of those measures starting tomorrow, including how we pay for them,” he said.
His administration’s initial agenda is expected to focus on improving public services, tackling rising living costs and implementing economic reforms designed to deliver greater political stability and sustained growth.
