Andy Burnham became Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade on July 20, promising to restore political stability, tackle the cost-of-living crisis, and reshape the country’s economic model after years of political upheaval.
Burnham formally took office after King Charles III accepted the resignation of Keir Starmer and invited the new Labour leader to form a government. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, Burnham acknowledged the political instability that has defined British politics since the 2016 Brexit referendum and pledged a new direction for the country.
“I know people at home are fed up with politics. I hear you, and I want to be honest with you, we have not been good enough and we need to be better,” Burnham said.
He added: “This is a moment for reflection and new resolution. It requires my generation of politicians to raise our game and rise to the new challenge. 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.”
Domestic Agenda Centers on Cost of Living and Public Services
Burnham outlined an ambitious domestic agenda focused on easing financial pressures on households, strengthening public services, devolving power away from Westminster, and addressing homelessness.
“We will take power out of here and carry it into every postcode in the land so that they can do more and in doing more, build a new economy where we put life’s essentials back under stronger public control to make them affordable to you again,” he said.
Describing his government as a “circuit breaker” for Britain, Burnham argued that decades of privatization and centralized government had left the country struggling with stagnant living standards and weakened public institutions.
“I will soon go through that door behind me and issue my first instruction: to end rough sleeping in our country,” he said.
The prime minister said he would introduce immediate measures to provide “some breathing space now, some help with the cost of living,” with additional announcements expected on July 21.
Burnham also confirmed that his government will publish a 10-year national strategy later this year, although he acknowledged that many of its reforms will take time to implement.
Surprise Treasury Appointment Signals New Direction
One of Burnham’s first acts in office was appointing former Defense Secretary John Healey as chancellor of the exchequer, replacing Rachel Reeves in a move widely viewed as a break from the previous administration’s economic approach.
Healey resigned from Starmer’s government weeks earlier over disagreements about defense funding after arguing Britain was being left “well short” of what it needed to protect itself.
Labour lawmakers welcomed the appointment, saying it would reassure both U.S. President Donald Trump and NATO allies that Britain remains committed to strengthening defense spending.
Shabana Mahmood retained her position as home secretary, while Energy Secretary Ed Miliband became foreign secretary. Yvette Cooper moved to health secretary, and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy left the Cabinet alongside several other senior Starmer allies.
The full Cabinet is scheduled to meet on July 21.
Challenges Await New Government
Burnham assumes office facing many of the same issues that weakened his predecessor, including sluggish economic growth, high living costs, strained public services, illegal immigration, and ongoing international crises including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
While his inaugural address focused almost entirely on domestic policy, Burnham reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to defense and security during his first conversation with President Donald Trump.
According to Downing Street, Burnham “underlined his commitment to defence and security.” His office also said the prime minister reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking later on July 20, Burnham stressed that he would take “a very prudent approach” to economic policy and would not take unnecessary fiscal risks. Financial markets reacted cautiously, with sterling weakening and British government borrowing costs rising after he indicated he would retain the previous government’s fiscal rules while seeking flexibility within them.
Labour Changes Leader Without General Election
Burnham became Labour leader on July 17, running unopposed after Starmer announced his resignation on June 22. He secured nominations from 379 of Labour’s 403 members of Parliament.
Under Britain’s parliamentary system, the governing party can replace its leader, and therefore the prime minister, without holding a general election. The next national election is not required before 2029, although Burnham retains the authority to call one earlier.
The former mayor of Greater Manchester has pledged to make politics “less toxic,” improve living standards, and restore public confidence in government.
Political analyst Tim Bale of Queen Mary University of London said Labour had chosen Burnham “to inject a sense of positivity, of hope, of purpose, a sense of direction.”
“Burnham says ‘he is going to mark a big break, not just with Keir Starmer, but also with what he regards as four decades of the country going in the wrong direction,'” Bale said. “But quite what that means in terms of concrete policies, in terms how much he’s going to spend and on what, and how much is going to tax … we’re not sure yet.”
Starmer Leaves Office After Two Years
Earlier on July 20, Starmer delivered his farewell address outside Downing Street before traveling to Buckingham Palace to submit his resignation to King Charles III.
“My work is done,” Starmer declared. “I go with good grace. I go with a smile, and I go proud of everything that we have achieved,” he said. “It has been the privilege of my life to serve you and this great country as prime minister.”
Starmer, who became Labour leader in 2020 and led the party to a landslide election victory in 2024, said he was leaving office confident that “Britain is now stronger and fairer than it was two years ago.”
Burnham entered Downing Street shortly afterward, beginning a premiership that he hopes will restore confidence in Britain’s political system after a decade marked by frequent leadership changes and economic uncertainty.