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Andy Burnham Becomes Prime Minister of UK

Former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is the new of the United Kingdom, taking over for Keir Starmer, who resigned.

Sandra RhodesJul 20, 20262 min read

Keir Starmer Prime Minister United Kingdom World News

Former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is the new of the United Kingdom.

Burnham assumed the position Monday following the resignation of his predecessor, Keir Starmer.

King Charles III invited Burnham to form a new government, as is tradition. The two met at Buckingham Palace Monday when Burnham became the new Prime Minister.

Burnham won a seat in Parliament earlier this month with 55% of the vote. He immediately ran to replace Starmer as Labour Party leader.

Burnham is the seventh U.K. prime minister since 2016.

"We will change politics, to make it more collaborative, more about problem-solving than point scoring," Burnham said

outside 10 Downing Street. "And 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 – reindustrializing Britain, using public procurement to back British industry."

Watch:

https://x.com/BBCPolitics/status/2079174365518721228?s=20

Starmer gave a short farewell speech outside the Prime Minister’s 10 Downing Street residence, saying “my work is done.”

Starmer, who was forced to resign by his own party, said Britain is now “stronger and fairer than it was two years ago” when he took office.

“I go with good grace, I go with a smile and I go proud of everything that we have achieved,” Starmer said before heading to Buckingham Palace to offer his resignation to the king.

Watch:

https://x.com/BBCPolitics/status/2079149828798390782?s=20

It was an offer “His Majesty was graciously pleased to accept,” the palace said in a statement.