Andy Burnham Becomes UK Prime Minister After Keir Starmer Resignation
King Charles III formally invited Labour leader Andy Burnham to form a government on 20 July 2026, ending Keir Starmer’s two‑year stint as prime minister. Starmer delivered a farewell speech at Downing Street, handed his resignation to the monarch in the traditional “kissing‑hands” ceremony and praised the Labour Party’s recent electoral victories before stepping down.
Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester and a longtime Labour MP, became the United Kingdom’s seventh prime minister in ten years. In his first address he pledged a “new dawn” for Britain, promising a 10‑year economic plan, measures to curb the cost‑of‑living crisis, an end to rough‑sleeping, increased investment in public services and a review of North‑Sea oil licences. He also faced immediate pressure from business groups over recent inheritance‑tax reforms and from opposition parties demanding continuity on defense and foreign policy.
Media coverage highlighted the rapid transition, with live broadcasts from Downing Street and Buckingham Palace. Burnham’s appointment marks a fresh political chapter for the UK, as he seeks to stabilise a government beset by rapid turnover and public fatigue.