NewsPoliticsAndy BurnhamLIVEUpdated 3 mins agoAndy Burnham becomes the sixth Prime Minister to walk up Downing Street in a decade later today - after King Charles invites the new Labour leader to form a governmentAndy Burnham will today become prime minister(Image: Getty Images)Updated 07:19, 20 Jul 2026Andy Burnham will today become Prime Minister — and will have an audience with King Charles before he delivers his first speech at Downing Street as leader.The so-called King of the North will set the tone of his government for years to come, acknowledging a nation weary at the frequent sight of the No10 podium. Crucially though, the address will give Mr Burnham, 56, the chance to vow to give Britain “more breathing space” on the cost of living.And Labour’s deputy leader, Lucy Powell, insisted on Sunday that Mr Burnham will set out a “bolder more ambitious” vision for fixing Britain’s thorny problems.Other allies of Mr Burnham said he would argue that political stability must deliver “tangible” improvements along with the “breathing room” on the cost of living he has previously promised.When Keir Starmer resigned last month, the politician fought back the tears as he admitted Labour MPs did not think he was "best placed" to lead Labour into the next general election.For updates on Andy Burnham becoming prime minister, follow our live blog belowView PostView PostToday07:18 BSTBig Issue founder urges Burnham to boost council powers to buy-up empty homesAndy Burnham has been urged to give councils stronger powers to buy-up or lease empty properties and help tackle the homelessness crisis.The call from Big Issue founder Lord John Bird comes as more than one million families languish on waiting lists and record levels of children are forced to live in temporary accommodation, including B&Bs.The crossbench peer is calling for a government-backed loan scheme, which he said would “unlock thousands of new social houses and ease the homelessness crisis”.He told The Mirror: “Andy Burnham has an opportunity to show he’s serious about tackling homelessness by introducing this on day one of his premiership.”Today07:16 BSTKey timings as Burnham to become PM by the afternoonBurnham and Keir Starmer will be following a tight schedule today as No 10 prepares to welcome the new Labour leader, with proceedings already rumbling in the background.Starmer is set to make a statement in Downing Street at around 11.15am ahead of his visit to Buckingham Palace, where he will formally conclude his term as Prime Minister. Burnham will arrive there over an hour later at 12.40pm and deliver a speech to eagerly awaiting journalists, many of whom will have been packing out the street since the wee hours.Burnham is expected to reveal his cabinet picks in the late afternoon.Journalists have been preparing for Andy Burnham's arrival at Number 10 since early this morning(Image: Getty Images)Today07:08 BSTBurnham's dad unaware he's becoming PMAndy Burnham has said his dad, who suffers from Alzheimer's and is care home bound, is unaware that he's about to become Prime Minister.The incoming PM told The Times: "That's a sadness because he would be [proud]." Burnham's dad is Kenneth Roy Burnham, a former telephone engineer. He has spoken of Mr Burnham several times in the past, saying in 2024 that he was a feminist who "wouldn’t have called himself that at the time, but he was".‌Today07:00 BSTAndy Burnham to promise 'more breathing space' on cost of living in first address to nation as PMAndy Burnham will promise to “give Britain more breathing space” on the cost of living in his first major address to the nation as Prime Minister.The pledge from the new Labour leader comes as he is expected to announce a policy blitz in his first week in No10 to help ease the pressure on cash-strapped households.The ex-Greater Manchester Mayor will also acknowledge the turbulence in British politics as he replaces Keir Starmer just two years after Labour’s election victory.Andy Burnham to promise 'more breathing space' on cost of living in first address to nation as PMAndy Burnham speaks after being confirmed as the Labour Party's new leader last week(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)‌