Andy Burnham takes charge as new UK PM, vows 'circuit-breaker' moment

The newly elected Labour leader assumed office after meeting King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, where the monarch formally invited him to form a government following the resignation of Keir Starmer. Burnham now begins the task of appointing his Cabinet and setting out the new government's priorities.Britain's newly appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham looks on as he delivers a speech outside 10 Downing Street after taking office, in London. (Photo: Reuters)Andy Burnham officially became the United Kingdom's new Prime Minister on Monday, promising sweeping political and economic reforms. He pledged to make his premiership a "circuit-breaker" moment for the country.The newly elected Labour leader assumed office after meeting King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, where the monarch formally invited him to form a government following the resignation of Keir Starmer. Burnham now begins the task of appointing his Cabinet and setting out the new government's priorities.BURNHAM PROMISES MAJOR CHANGEIn his first address outside 10 Downing Street, Burnham departed from tradition by speaking without the customary lectern used by most recent prime ministers. Flanked by his wife, Marie-France van Heel, and senior Labour colleagues expected to join his government, the 56-year-old outlined an agenda focused on public services, housing and political reform."We will make this moment a circuit-breaker for Britain, bringing forward the biggest changes in the last 40 years; a new political model and a new economic model," Burnham said. He stressed that his government would prioritise practical solutions over political divisions and promised to build what he described as a more preventative state."We will help people to live well, building a more preventative state, investing in people's success, rather than paying for people's failure; and that work starts now," he said. Burnham also identified homelessness as one of his first priorities."I will soon go through that door behind me and issue my first instruction: to end rough sleeping in our country," he said, linking the pledge to plans to increase housing supply across Britain.FORMAL HANDOVER OF POWERBurnham formally became prime minister after his audience with King Charles III, which completed the constitutional transfer of power.In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: "His Majesty received in audience the Rt. Hon. Andrew Burnham MP and requested him to form a new administration."The palace added that Burnham "kissed hands upon his appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury," referring to the long-standing ceremonial tradition that marks the appointment of a British prime minister.Having been elected Labour leader unopposed last week, Burnham is expected to move quickly to announce his Cabinet and begin implementing his government's agenda.STARMER STEPS DOWNEarlier in the day, Keir Starmer delivered his farewell remarks outside Downing Street before travelling to Buckingham Palace to formally resign."My work is done," Starmer said.The 63-year-old Labour leader, who announced last month that he would step aside, said he was "passing the baton" to Burnham and offered his successor his "full support.""I go with good grace, I go with a smile and I go proud of everything that we have achieved," Starmer said.Cabinet ministers, advisers and Downing Street staff applauded as Starmer departed No. 10, bringing to an end a two-year premiership that began after Labour's landslide victory in the 2024 general election.- EndsWith inputs from PTIPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Jul 20, 2026 18:30 IST