Europe
In his first speech as prime minister, Burnham said his first ambition was to end rough sleeping in Britain, but also that he wanted people to feel the change in government in their pockets quickly.
Britain's newly appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham gives thumbs-up as he walks outside 10 Downing Street following his speech after taking office, in London, Britain, July 20, 2026. (Reuters/Isabel Infantes)
Andy Burnham will set out his first measures as Britain's new prime minister on Tuesday in an attempt to deliver on his promises to ease a cost-of-living crisis, improve lives and end a decade of political instability.After appointing a top ministerial team which he hopes will be more agile than that of his predecessor Keir Starmer, Burnham wants to move quickly to show Britain politics can work and improve living standards after years of stagnation.
Alongside meeting his cabinet of ministers, he will also kick off a program he believes can turn Britain around, hoping a bolder agenda can win back voters to the governing Labour Party and fight a challenge from the populist Reform UK.
