Andy Burnham entered Downing Road on Monday as Britain’s new prime minister, promising to shift energy away from Westminster as his authorities inherits a troublesome mixture of financial stress, political turbulence and potential tensions with Washington.
Talking outdoors No. 10, Burnham mentioned his administration would search to reshape the way in which politics is completed within the UK. “We are going to change politics, to make it extra collaborative, extra about problem-solving than level scoring,” he mentioned. “And we are going to take energy out of right here and carry it into each postcode within the land, in order that they’ll do extra.
“And, in doing extra, construct a brand new financial system the place we put life’s necessities again beneath stronger public management to make them reasonably priced to you once more – reindustrializing Britain, utilizing public procurement to again British trade.”
Andy Burnham offers his first handle as the UK’s new prime minister on July 20, 2026, in London, England. The Member of Parliament for Makerfield turns into the UK’s 59th prime minister, changing Sir Keir Starmer, who stepped down as each Labour Get together chief and prime minister in June. (Photograph by Dan Kitwood/Getty Photos) (Dan Kitwood/Getty Photos)
Earlier Monday, Burnham, 56, met King Charles III at Buckingham Palace in London forward of his formal swearing-in and debut remarks as prime minister. Throughout the viewers, the monarch invited Burnham to type a brand new authorities, a proposal he accepted.
“I’ve simply come from Buckingham Palace, the place I’ve accepted His Majesty the King’s invitation to type a authorities,” Burnham mentioned as he started his quick assertion. “And in doing so, I’m acutely aware that I’m the sixth particular person within the final 10 years to stroll up this avenue: The seventh Prime Minister since 2016, making this a second for reflection and new decision.
He mentioned the second demanded extra from Britain’s political class. “It requires my era of politicians to boost our recreation and rise to the brand new problem. Britain wants to indicate the world that we are able to regain our stability as soon as once more, and that’s our problem to make politics work, to make it work higher,” Burnham mentioned. “I do know individuals at residence are fed up with politics. I hear you and I wish to be sincere with you: We’ve got not been adequate and we have to be higher. We will likely be.”
Setting out the early tone of his premiership, Burnham argued for main political and financial reform, saying the nation had taken “some unsuitable turns” through the Eighties.
“We are going to make this second a circuit breaker for Britain, bringing ahead the most important modifications within the final 40 years,” he mentioned. “A brand new political mannequin and a brand new financial mannequin.”
New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is welcomed by King Charles III throughout an viewers at Buckingham Palace in London on Monday, July 20, 2026. Burnham was invited to turn into prime minister and type a brand new authorities. (PA Wire/PA Photos)
Outgoing Keir Starmer formally submitted his resignation and handed “the baton” in remarks outdoors 10 Downing Road.
“As I now move the baton to Andy Burnham, I want him each success,” Starmer mentioned. “He has my full assist.
“For all of the deal with people, politics will all the time be a group sport and the modifications now we have delivered for our nation and our social gathering belong to everybody who has fought for them. I thank them once more right this moment, and I thank the British individuals for the chance to serve.
“I am going with good grace, I am going with a smile, and I am going pleased with every part that now we have achieved.”
His relationship with Washington may present an early foreign-policy take a look at. Burnham has repeatedly criticized Trump, evaluating the instability surrounding the president’s return to workplace with the turmoil beneath former British Prime Minister Liz Truss and warning in opposition to importing what he known as America’s polarized political tradition.
He has maintained the U.S.-U.Okay. relationship stays essential, although, pledging continuity on NATO, Britain’s nuclear deterrent and assist for Ukraine.
Trump beforehand dismissed Burnham as the previous “mayor of a city” and mentioned he had heard the incoming British chief was “extraordinarily liberal.” Reform UK has additionally challenged Burnham’s mandate, arguing that he ought to name a normal election after reaching Downing Road with out dealing with both a aggressive Labour management contest or a nationwide vote.
Outgoing Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer bid farewell to workplace Monday morning outdoors 10 Downing Road: ‘As I now move the baton to Andy Burnham, I want him each success: He has my full assist.’ (Carl Courtroom/Getty Photos)
Burnham succeeds Starmer after turning into Labour chief unopposed Friday. He enters workplace with out a new nationwide vote beneath Britain’s parliamentary system, which permits the governing social gathering to vary leaders midterm. The subsequent normal election just isn’t required till 2029, although Burnham may name one earlier.
On the heart of his agenda is what he calls “Manchesterism” — an effort to present cities and areas larger authority over transportation, housing, infrastructure and financial improvement. He has paired that strategy with what he describes as “business-friendly socialism,” combining larger public management of important companies with cooperation between authorities and personal trade.
Burnham’s arrival at Downing Road caps a decade-long political comeback. After dropping his second Labour management contest in 2015, Burnham left nationwide politics and constructed a brand new energy base in Larger Manchester, the place 9 years as mayor earned him the nickname “King of the North” and a repute as an efficient communicator keen to problem the federal government in London.
“I’ll work to construct a brand new politics; the nation is crying out for it,” he mentioned Friday. “Persons are on the lookout for us to ship, and we are going to.”
