Andy Burnham officially became the United Kingdom's new prime minister after King Charles III invited him to form a government, replacing Keir Starmer and becoming the country's sixth prime minister in the past decade. Following Starmer's formal resignation at Buckingham Palace, Burnham accepted the King's request to establish a new administration before returning to Downing Street to deliver his first address as Britain's leader.
In his inaugural speech outside Number 10, Burnham acknowledged the political instability that has marked recent years, noting that he is the seventh person to hold the office since 2016. “I am acutely conscious that I am the sixth person in the last ten years to walk up this street,” he said, arguing that Britain must restore confidence in its political system. He admitted that public frustration with politics is justified, adding, “We have not been good enough and we need to be better.”
Burnham announced that his government would begin unveiling measures to ease the cost-of-living crisis as early as Tuesday. “I can do something to give people some breathing space now,” he said, promising immediate support while outlining plans for a broader economic strategy. He also pledged to introduce a comprehensive 10-year national plan later this year that would chart the country's long-term direction and explain how the government intends to finance its proposals.
