Andy Burnham, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester, officially takes office today as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He succeeds Keir Starmer in the role.
Burnham will assume power following a meeting with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, where Starmer will submit his resignation. In doing so, Burnham becomes the seventh Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the last 10 years.
In his first speech as head of government, Burnham promises to “give people more breathing room” and to focus on key challenges: reducing the cost of living, reforming social services, regenerating regions, and strengthening national unity. He emphasises that he is acutely aware of the frequent changes of prime ministers and intends to stabilise the situation in the country.
Burnham, often referred to as the “King of the North,” enjoys popularity thanks to his effective management of Manchester. His rise to power is seen as Labour’s attempt to reset the party and regain voters’ trust amid economic difficulties and regional tensions.
It is expected that in the coming days the new Prime Minister will announce the composition of the cabinet and the main priorities of domestic and foreign policy.