It Is Andy Burnham's Britain Now: UK Gets New Prime Minister As Keir Starmer Exits

Published 20 July 2026 · politics

It Is Andy Burnham's Britain Now: UK Gets New Prime Minister As Keir Starmer Exits Published By, Last Updated: July 20, 2026, 10:18 IST Andy

It Is Andy Burnham's Britain Now: UK Gets New Prime Minister As Keir Starmer Exits Published By, Last Updated: July 20, 2026, 10:18 IST Andy Burnham, 56, enters Downing Street promising a fundamental reset of British politics and government. Andy Burnham will not be inheriting any calm when he moves in to Number 10. (Image source: Reuters) Andy Burnham will become Britain’s new prime minister, taking charge of a country grappling with sluggish economic growth, a cost-of-living crisis and mounting pressure on public services. The former mayor of Greater Manchester, often dubbed the “King of the North", will succeed Keir Starmer after the outgoing Labour leader formally tenders his resignation to King Charles. Andy Burnham will then travel to Buckingham Palace to be invited by the monarch to form a government, becoming Britain’s seventh prime minister in just over a decade. Andy Burnham, 56, enters Downing Street promising a fundamental reset of British politics and government.

After winning the Labour leadership, Andy Burnham described his election as “the most significant change moment in our politics for 40 years" and pledged to reshape government around issues affecting everyday life. “The government I lead will confidently lay that path out starting next week," Andy Burnham said, adding, “It will take us to a country where life is more affordable and all people and places are lifted from where they are now." Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell said Andy Burnham wanted to “refocus and reprioritise the government’s resources" towards helping households facing rising costs. “He wants to refocus and reprioritise the government’s resources, the government’s attention onto his priorities of tackling the cost of living, really rewiring the way the country, the economy works," Powell told Sky News. Who Is Andy Burnham? A former cabinet minister and long-serving Labour politician, Andy Burnham spent years building his profile as mayor of Greater Manchester, where he became known for championing greater regional autonomy and investment outside London.

His appeal extends beyond Labour’s traditional voter base and that he is better placed to counter the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK than his predecessor. Within Labour, many lawmakers view Andy Burnham as one of the party’s strongest communicators and a politician capable of reconnecting with voters who have drifted away from mainstream parties. One of Burnham’s first tasks will be appointing his cabinet, including a finance minister who will be responsible for delivering the government’s economic agenda. The position has become the subject of intense speculation within Labour. Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband was initially viewed as a frontrunner, although Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has emerged as a leading contender in recent days. Beyond personnel choices, the new prime minister faces difficult decisions on taxation, public spending, energy policy and the future of Britain’s struggling utilities sector. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered What are Andy Burnham's immediate policy priorities?