Andy Burnham takes over as Prime Minister of Britain, succeeding Starmer

The new leader of the Labor Party, Andy Burnham, assumed his duties as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on Monday, becoming the seventh person to hold this position in ten years, bringing with him a change in both style and policies as London faces major economic and social challenges.

Burnham (56 years old), who until last June was mayor of the Greater Manchester region in northern England, replaces resigned Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who arrived in Downing Street in July 2024 after a landslide victory for the Labor Party in the legislative elections that ended 14 years of Conservative rule.

On Friday, Burnham became leader of the Labor Party after receiving the support of about 95 percent of its deputies, which qualifies him to head the government given that the party enjoys a majority in Parliament.

Starmer announced his resignation on June 22 from the Prime Minister’s Office after his popularity declined and opposition to him increased within Labor ranks as a result of his making a series of controversial decisions and the party’s defeat in some local electoral elections.

Starmer expressed his pride in what his government accomplished in the two years during which he assumed power, and in his last speech in front of his headquarters on Downing Street, he considered that the kingdom had become “stronger and more just” than it was when he took office.

Starmer, who hands over the presidency of the government on Monday to his colleague in the Labor Party, Andy Burnum, said that the United Kingdom “is stronger and fairer today than it was two years ago.”

He added in his speech, which he delivered surrounded by his aides and a number of his ministers, “I leave smiling, and I leave proud of everything we have achieved.”

Starmer then moved to Buckingham Palace, where he formally submitted his resignation to King Charles III, who accepted it, according to a statement issued by the palace, explaining that Starmer’s husband, Victoria, was accompanying him.

After that, the King received Andy Burnham and appointed him head of the new government and tasked him with forming it, according to what Buckingham Palace announced in a brief statement.

Burnham became the fourth prime minister during the reign of Charles III since his accession to the throne in September 2022.

Burnham presents in Downing Street his approaches to managing the country’s affairs, in his first speech as Prime Minister.

He will also announce the formation of the new government.