Andy Burnham to become UK’s PM on Monday: What happens next?
Andy Burnham will become UK prime minister. Here’s how the transition of power will unfold. UK's next prime minister: Burnham begins to set out policies
Andy Burnham will become UK prime minister. Here’s how the transition of power will unfold. UK's next prime minister: Burnham begins to set out policies for new government Andy Burnham, nicknamed the “King of the North”, will become the UK’s next prime minister on Monday after winning the Labour leadership following Keir Starmer’s resignation. Burnham left Westminster nearly a decade ago to become mayor of Greater Manchester and he returned to Parliament only weeks ago before securing the Labour leadership. He will become the 59th prime minister and the seventh to occupy Number 10 in the past decade. Who is Andy Burnham? Burnham, 56, previously served in several Labour governments before leaving Westminster in 2017 to become the mayor of Greater Manchester. There, he emerged as one of Britain’s best-known regional politicians earning the nickname “King of the North” for his outspoken defence of northern England during the COVID-19 pandemic and his campaigns for greater regional investment. Known for his approachable style, Burnham has often contrasted himself with traditional Westminster politicians. “When I said I was going to do politics differently, I meant it,” he said during his leadership campaign. Supporters say that style has helped make him one of Labour’s most popular figures. But he now inherits the same challenges that confronted Keir Starmer, including a sluggish economy and high living costs.
When does Burnham become prime minister? Burnham is expected to become prime minister on Monday, after formally accepting an invitation from King Charles III to form a government. He will take office after Starmer tenders his resignation to the King at Buckingham Palace. Burnham will then travel to 10 Downing Street to deliver his first speech as PM and begin appointing his Cabinet. The King invites Burnham to form a government After accepting Starmer’s resignation, King Charles will invite Burnham to Buckingham Palace and ask him to form a government. Burnham becomes prime minister the moment he accepts the King’s invitation. The ceremony is traditionally known as “kissing hands”, although modern prime ministers simply greet the monarch during the private audience. The new PM arrives at Downing Street He then travels to his official home at 10 Downing Street, where he is expected to make his first statement in office. The whole sequence is typically broadcast live on television and will be over within hours. Unlike the US, where presidential transitions last for months, a British prime minister typically has only a few hours on transition day to complete the move out of Downing Street, with much of the packing done in advance. The logistical handover does not involve physical keys.
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