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Andy Burnham appointed UK Prime Minister after Keir Starmer's resignation
On 20 July 2026 King Charles III formally invited Labour leader Andy Burnham to form a government, ending the term of outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Burnham, the seventh British premier in ten years, accepted the invitation at Buckingham Palace and became the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
In his first public remarks Burnham pledged to “bring back hope”, to tackle rough‑sleeping and to launch a ten‑year plan aimed at improving public services, stabilising the cost‑of‑living crisis and boosting the economy. He signalled a review of North‑Sea oil and gas licensing and promised a “circuit‑breaker” for British politics, while noting that his cabinet would be announced “within hours”.
Starmer’s farewell speech thanked supporters and highlighted the country’s recent support for Ukraine. The transition sparked extensive media coverage, with viewers commenting on the length of ITV’s special broadcast. Business groups such as Family Business UK have already urged the new government to roll back recent inheritance‑tax reforms that they say threaten family‑run firms.