LONDON: Labour Party leader Andy Burnham has officially assumed office as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom following a meeting with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said King Charles III invited Burnham to form a new government.
Burnham accepted the King’s invitation and formally “kissed hands” upon his appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury, according to the Palace. The statement also noted that Burnham’s wife, Marie-France van Heel, was present at the meeting.
His Majesty received in Audience the Rt. Hon. Andrew Burnham MP and requested him to form a new Administration. The Rt. Hon Andrew Burnham MP accepted The King’s offer and kissed hands upon his appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury. pic.twitter.com/QGXjt80Tbq
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) July 20, 2026
The 56-year-old leader, widely known as the “King of the North” for his strong support of regional empowerment, has pledged to restore stability, rebuild public trust in government, and reform Britain’s political system by devolving more power from Westminster to the regions.
Prime Minister Burnham, in his speech as a leader of the United Kingdom, said that he is “acutely conscious” that he is the latest in a long line of British leaders in recent years.
🚨 BREAKING: Andy Burnham pledges to the British people that his Government will be “better”
“I want to be honest with you: we have not been good enough. We need to be better. We will be” pic.twitter.com/1gwxt7LjXJ
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) July 20, 2026
“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.
He said that Britain took “some wrong turns” in the 1980s and needed to do better, an argument he made throughout his leadership pitch.
“Political power was centralized, economic power privatized,” he said. “Large parts of the country de-industrialized and they still haven’t recovered. Many feel as though they’re still in decline and they don’t have the ability to turn things around. And that’s why we will change politics to make it more collaborative, more about problem solving than point scoring.”
Burnham said he will also start laying out plans to give people more “breathing space” on the cost of living, starting from tomorrow.
The new prime minister said that more young people will be helped into work by changing the education system, and more support, including mental health support, will be available.
Also Read: Andy Burnham Declared Labour Leader, Set to Become UK Prime Minister
Prime Minister announces 10-year plan for Britain
He added that later this year, he will lay out a 10-year plan for Britain, laying out the path of where he wants the country to be.
The new PM said he will also start laying out plans to give people more “breathing space” on the cost of living, starting from tomorrow, and will lay out how to pay for them.
Andy Burnham was officially declared leader of Britain’s governing Labour Party on Friday, clearing the way for him to become the country’s next prime minister on Monday.
Labour announced the outcome of its leadership contest to replace outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with Burnham running unopposed.
His victory had been widely expected after he secured the backing of 379 of Labour’s 403 Members of Parliament in the House of Commons ahead of the vote.
Who is Andy Burnham
Andy Burnham has served as the Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017. Born on January 7, 1970, in Liverpool, he previously served as a Member of Parliament for Leigh and held several senior roles in government under former Labour prime ministers.
Burnham served as Secretary of State for Health (2009–2010), Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (2007–2009), and held other cabinet positions during the Labour governments of the 2000s. He was a candidate for Labour Party leader in 2010 and 2015 before becoming one of the party’s prominent figures outside Westminster.
As mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham has focused on regional investment, public services, transport, and greater decision-making powers for local communities. Known for his emphasis on giving regions outside London a stronger voice, he has often positioned himself as an advocate for devolving power across the UK.
Starmer announces to step down
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced last month that he would step down after two years in office, following a series of political setbacks and controversies that weakened his support within the Labour Party and among the public.
Labour has consistently trailed the anti-immigration Reform UK party in opinion polls, while its heavy losses in May’s local elections intensified pressure on Starmer to resign.
