Andy Burnham Appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Following the resignation of Keir Starmer, Buckingham Palace has officially confirmed the appointment of Andy Burnham as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Starmer’s Final Address

“Thank you. My work is coming to an end. My party has been through a lot under my leadership,” said Keir Starmer during his farewell speech outside 10 Downing Street. He emphasized that the United Kingdom is stronger now than it was when he took office two years ago.

Starmer noted that he will always remember the humility required for his role, calling it a great honor. He stated that “no enemy will divide us” due to their strong values of freedom and decency, while reiterating his support for those defending Ukraine.

“I am now passing the baton to Andy Burnham; he has my full support. I hope politics continues to be a team sport. I leave with a smile and pride in everything we achieved,” Starmer added.

The Transfer of Power

After his speech, Starmer traveled to Buckingham Palace to formally inform King Charles III of his resignation and name his successor. Shortly thereafter, 56-year-old Andy Burnham visited the palace, where the King requested he form a government. This tradition, known as “kissing hands,” marked the official start of his premiership, which was confirmed by Buckingham Palace after 1:00 PM.

The new head of government is expected to deliver his first address to the nation from Downing Street shortly.

Starmer’s Two-Year Tenure

Starmer came to power in 2024, leading the Labour Party to its largest electoral victory in decades and ending 14 years of Conservative rule. His premiership lasted only two years, and he leaves office as the least popular prime minister in modern polling history. He announced his resignation on June 22 following months of mounting internal party pressure.

The Rise of the King of the North

Andy Burnham is a long-time Labour politician, former government minister, and, since 2017, the popular mayor of Greater Manchester, often nicknamed the “King of the North.” He returned to Westminster in June by winning a by-election in Makerfield, paving the way for his leadership bid. Sworn in as an MP on July 12, he was formally elected party leader on Friday, July 17, with the support of 349 Labour MPs.

Burnham becomes the seventh British Prime Minister since the 2016 Brexit referendum, a period characterized by high turnover at Downing Street. The Labour Party hopes his leadership will bring an end to this cycle of frequent government changes.