The UK’s new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, is already sending shockwaves through Westminster. Defying almost every political forecast and market expectation, he has named John Healey, a former defense secretary, as the new chancellor of the exchequer. Healey steps into this role — one of the most powerful in the UK government — at a challenging moment for the British economy. Growth has been too low for too long; fiscal flexibility is limited; borrowing costs are the most burdensome among the G7 economies; and taxes are already high, though public services often disappoint.

Britain’s new leader, Andy Burnham, is facing the same old problem: How can he kickstart a sluggish economy so that growing companies and increased output generate enough…

LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s announcements during his first 24 hours on the job underscore the political and financial challenges he faces as he tries to…