Andy Burnham has completed the final steps to become Britain’s prime minister, taking over from Keir Starmer in a day of ceremony that made him the seventh person to hold the office in a decade.
The 56-year-old former mayor of Greater Manchester and new Labour Party leader travelled to Buckingham Palace after Starmer formally resigned to King Charles III. The king then asked Burnham to form a government, a centuries-old ritual known as “kissing hands” that formally confirmed his appointment.
Burnham’s rise to the top of British politics has been swift. He returned to Parliament in June after winning a closely watched special election, and was sworn in as an MP on July 12 — just hours after Starmer announced he would step down following a turbulent two years in office marked by policy reversals and falling public support. Poor results in May’s local elections proved decisive, with the Labour Party pushing Starmer out before the end of his term.
Burnham first served in Labour governments two decades ago before leaving Westminster in 2017 to become mayor of Greater Manchester, a role in which he built a reputation for driving economic regeneration, improving public transport, and boosting the city’s cultural profile.
He has described his return to national politics as “unfinished business” and says he plans to scale up what he calls “Manchesterism” — a model built on public-private investment and devolving power from Westminster to local and regional leaders. He has also pledged to restore public trust and a sense of hope in politics, though he faces the task of winning over a skeptical electorate.
Under Britain’s parliamentary system, a governing party can replace its leader mid-term without triggering a general election, meaning Burnham became prime minister without a nationwide vote. The next general election is not required until 2029, though Burnham retains the option of calling one earlier.
Starmer, who led Labour to a landslide victory just two years ago, delivered a brief farewell address at Downing Street before departing for the palace. Burnham is expected to address the nation for the first time as prime minister outside the door of 10 Downing Street later Monday.
Labour officials are hoping his arrival marks the end of a period of rapid leadership turnover that has defined British politics since 2016.
Among those Burnham is expected to meet on his first day: Larry, the Downing Street cat, who has outlasted six prime ministers since taking up residence in 2011.
READ ALSO:
- Troops nab suspected foreign terrorist fighter, illegal immigrant, six logistics suppliers in Borno
- Team Nigeria clinches Gold Award at Spelling Bee World Cup in Shanghai
- Drug trafficking through ports threatens Nigeria’s trade reputation — SEREC
- 40 Feared Dead as Boat Conveying Women, Children Capsizes in Jigawa
- NMDPRA: LPG supply rises 24% in June, retail price drops to N1,400 per kg
