LONDON (AP) 鈥� , the former mayor of Greater Manchester and new leader of the Labour Party, became Britain鈥檚 seventh prime minister in a decade on Monday.
Burnham replaced the unpopular who announced his resignation to end a tenure of just two years in office.
Speaking outside 10 Downing St. minutes after being formally appointed by Burnham, 56, pledged to ease the cost of living for ordinary people, decentralize political power, revitalize industry and end street sleeping by homeless people.
Here is the latest:
Burnham gets to work forming his government
Andy Burnham is digging into his overflowing in-tray on his first day as Britain鈥檚 prime minister.
In the coming hours he will appoint his new Cabinet, after sweeping away several senior figures from Keir Starmer鈥檚 administration, including Treasury chief Rachel Reeves and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy.
And he says that on Tuesday he will announce the first of his plans to help people with the cost of living.
Burnham says fixing the care system is a must
Burnham says he 鈥渨ould not want to leave office鈥� without improving Britain鈥檚 patchy access to social care for those who need it because of age, illness or disability.
It鈥檚 a pressing issue in a country with an aging population, and one that has foxed previous Labour and Conservative governments.
Burnham, who has firsthand experience of the issue because his father has Alzheimer鈥檚, says there needs to be a 鈥渃onversation with the public鈥� about how to pay for long-term care. At present many people must spend all their savings and sell their property to pay for care.
Burnham told reporters that the status who is 鈥渘ot defensible. How many people have lost their homes and their savings in that time? We need to face it and fix it.鈥�
Treasury chief and deputy prime minister announce they are not in Burnham鈥檚 government
Some of the government鈥檚 top ministers have announced they will not be serving in Burnham鈥檚 Cabinet.
David Lammy, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, said on X that he 鈥渨ould have been proud to continue serving in Cabinet, but a new Prime Minister is entitled to build his own team.鈥�
Rachel Reeves said it was the 鈥減rivilege of my life鈥� to serve as Treasury chief, and wished her successor luck.
Burnham is expected to announce his new Cabinet in coming hours.
Burnham says he won鈥檛 take economic risks
Andy Burnham says his top priority is easing the cost of living for ordinary people, but he won鈥檛 take any risks with the economy.
Britain鈥檚 new prime minister told reporters in the garden of 10 Downing St. that he will take economic measures 鈥渢hat people will feel and feel quite quickly鈥� in their pocketbooks. He said 鈥渋t won鈥檛 take all of the pressure off but it just shows the direction of travel and that we鈥檙e serious about helping them out.鈥�
Burnham has said he鈥檒l give more details on Tuesday.
He said that he has 鈥渁lways taken a very prudent approach鈥� to the economy in previous jobs, and that will continue now he is leader. He says funding plans 鈥渨ill be clearly set out in our budget.鈥�
Trump and Burnham have spoken
President Donald Trump has spoken to Burnham, the White House said Monday, without providing details.
It was one of Burnham鈥檚 first phone calls since he entered No.10 Downing Street.
Burnham, who has little foreign policy experience, has said that Britain will remain a firm United States ally.
Relations with the U.S. could depend on how he interacts with a Trump, who initially gave Starmer glowing reviews only to sour on him for not supporting his war with Iran.
Zelenskyy will have phone call with Burnham later Monday
Congratulating Burnham, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X that he was 鈥渓ooking forward to our conversation later today,鈥� adding that the 鈥渇oundation of our bilateral relations is stronger than ever, and we will continue to make each other stronger.鈥�
Burnham鈥檚 predecessor, Keir Starmer, who stood down earlier, was a high-profile supporter of Ukraine in its war with Russia. He said he had provided the country with 鈥減olitical, defense, and values-based support.鈥�
Burnham, who has very little foreign policy experience, has said he will continue to provide Ukraine with the support it needs.
Burnham says his father doesn鈥檛 know he is prime minister because of Alzheimer鈥檚
In an interview with The Times published Sunday, Burnham revealed that his father鈥檚 illness meant he was not aware his son is taking the nation鈥檚 top job.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a sadness because he would be (proud),鈥� Burnham was quoted as saying. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a family achievement 鈥� although he doesn鈥檛 know it, it still makes me feel that we鈥檝e kind of done something together.鈥�
He added that he recently visited his dad in his care home, alongside his two brothers and his mother. Burnham鈥檚 father Roy was a longtime Labour supporter and was a big influence in setting him on the path to politics, according to the article.
Markets unfazed by orderly change in British prime minister
Financial markets, however, will assess Andy Burnham鈥檚 actions over the coming weeks and months to see if there is a marked change in economic direction.
There is growing speculation that Burnham will appoint the current home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, rather than Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. Many in the markets appear to have been spooked by the prospect of Miliband at the Treasury.
Any unease would likely be felt in the bond markets, where investors are already charging the U.K. higher interest rates than its peers for borrowing purposes. The U.K.鈥檚 public finances remain fragile and there鈥檚 not much room for higher spending unless Burnham raises taxes. However, Labour was elected on a manifesto pledge that it would not raise the key revenue-raising taxes, such as income tax.
Cabinet choices to reveal much about Burnham government
With Burnham now installed as prime minister, attention turns to his choices for Cabinet, particularly the key post of Treasury chief.
The appointment will be pivotal because the head of the Treasury Department, formally known as chancellor of the exchequer, controls tax and spending decisions.
Burnham鈥檚 choice will give clues about his plans as he faces the immense task of kick-starting a sluggish economy so that growing companies and increased output boost government revenue without raising taxes.
The decision has been considered finely balanced between Ed Miliband, the outgoing energy secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the current home secretary.
While Miliband comes from the party鈥檚 left wing, Mahmoud is seen as more conservative and has the advantage of being something of a blank slate in terms of economic positions, allowing Burnham to fully take the lead on the economy.
The other top jobs are defense secretary, foreign secretary and home secretary, who controls immigration and policing.
Burnham says UK support for Ukraine is solid
Burnham says his first calls to foreign leaders will be to U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine鈥檚 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,
Burnham has spent a decade as mayor of Greater Manchester and has little experience of international affairs.
A big question is how he will get along with Trump, the unpredictable leader of the U.K.鈥檚 closest ally.
Burnham says he wants to reassure Ukraine that 鈥淚 will be with him 100%鈥� and 鈥淏ritain鈥檚 support is steadfast, it is resolute.鈥�
The prime minister faces facts
One of the most solemn moments of Burnham鈥檚 first day will be the realization that he has the power to launch Britain鈥檚 nuclear missiles.
That will become clear when the U.K.鈥檚 top civil servant asks him to write 鈥渓ast resort letters鈥� to the captains of the country鈥檚 four nuclear-armed submarines telling them what to do if the civilian leadership is wiped out by a nuclear attack.
It is a duty unique to Britain, where there is no 鈥渘uclear football,鈥� the briefcase containing targeting data and launch codes that accompanies U.S. presidents wherever they go.
The letters are placed on each submarine inside safes that are to be opened only if their captains are certain Britain鈥檚 civilian leaders are dead.
The letters are destroyed unread when a new prime minister takes office. But it is believed there are four options: retaliate, don鈥檛 retaliate, use your own judgment, or put your weapons under the command of the U.S. or Australia.
Burnham outlines his policy priorities
In his first speech as prime minister, Burnham sketched out some of his priorities, though he offered no details and said he would set out some of the measures on Tuesday.
Burnham said he would decentralize power and help make essentials affordable again under the cost of living squeeze.
Burnham said he would back British industry and 鈥渞eindustrialize Britain.鈥�
He pledged to bring the welfare bill down and build more social housing, as well as be more supportive of the underfunded education system.
He also vowed to 鈥渆nd rough sleeping in this country,鈥� referring to homeless people sleeping in the open.
EU chief congratulates Burnham
European Council President Antonio Costa congratulated Burnham on his new job.
鈥淚n the last two years EU-UK relations gained a new, positive momentum. I look forward to continuing to further deepen our cooperation for the benefit of our citizens and businesses, he said in a message on X.
鈥淭he United Kingdom and the European Union are stronger together,鈥� he added.
The U.K. left the European Union after a referendum a decade ago.
Clap for the leader
Prime Minister Andy Burnham entered Downing Street regaled by the applause traditional for a new leader.
The first time a prime minister walks through the uber-polished door of 10 Downing St., household staff and civil servants by custom line the entrance and clap for the new leader and his senior team.
It is Burnham鈥檚 introduction to the people he will live and work with, most of whom served his predecessor only a few hours earlier.
Burnham gives first speech as UK prime minister
Prime Minister Andy Burnham says politicians 鈥渘eed to be better鈥� in his first speech as Britain鈥檚 leader.
He is promising to deliver a 鈥渃ircuit breaker鈥� for a system he says has taken wrong turns since the 1980s.
Burnham spoke outside 10 Downing St. minutes after he was formally asked to form a government by King Charles III.
In a break with tradition, Burnham ditched using a lectern, speaking in front of two microphones outside the famous shiny black door of the prime minister鈥檚 residence.
Prime ministers typically speak from a lectern clad with the royal crest that features a lion and a unicorn, the national animals, respectively, of England and Scotland.
Burnham wasn’t even in Parliament a month ago
In order to challenge Starmer for the Labour Party鈥檚 leadership position, Burnham had to take a big political gamble.
He first had to win a seat in Parliament and then amass the necessary support to launch a bid to topple Starmer.
As internal pressure mounted in May for Starmer to resign, Josh Simons, the Labour lawmaker for the seat of Makerfield near Manchester, stepped down, triggering a special election.
It was no shoe-in.
The anti-immigration Reform UK party had recently devastated Labour in local elections in the area, which had led to calls for Starmer鈥檚 resignation.
The bet paid off for Burnham, who is well-known and popular in the area, and he breezed to victory when the votes were tallied June 19.
Dozens of Labour lawmakers cheered as he was sworn in June 22.
Starmer ultimately stepped down and Burnham faced no opposition in running to become party leader.
Burnham, known as a casual dresser, opts for formal attire
Dark T-shirts and dark jeans are typically part of the work uniform for Burnham, who is seen as a more relaxed and natural communicator compared to the buttoned-up Starmer.
But he changed out of his usual casual wear on Monday, donning a dark suit, white dress shirt and blue tie as he met King Charles III at Buckingham Palace to get the formal go-ahead to become prime minister.
Andy Burnham is Britain鈥檚 new prime minister
Andy Burnham has formally accepted an invitation from King Charles III to form a government.
Buckingham Palace has released a photo of the two men shaking hands. The ceremony known as 鈥渒issing hands鈥� marks the transfer of power from former leader Keir Starmer to Burnham.
Burnham replaced Starmer as leader of the center-left governing Labour Party last week.
Why there is a change of prime minister without a general election
Burnham was chosen as Labour Party leader by 379 fellow lawmakers after Starmer said he was resigning. Because Labour holds a majority in government, its leader also .
Under Britain鈥檚 parliamentary democracy system, governing parties can change leaders midterm, with the winner becoming prime minister without the need for a general election. Prime ministers can be replaced if one has resigned as leader of their party, or been forced out by a leadership challenge.
It鈥檚 not unusual for British prime ministers to come to power without a broad election. In fact, four of the six British prime ministers in the past decade took the top job by winning internal party leadership contests to replace their predecessors, not by public vote.
Andy Burnham arrives at Buckingham Palace
Andy Burnham has arrived at Buckingham Palace to be appointed Britain鈥檚 new prime minister.
Burnham is set to meet King Charles III, who will ask him to form a government.
It comes soon after Keir Starmer went to the palace and formally resigned.
The king鈥檚 role harkens back to a time when the monarch exercised supreme power and chose a prime minister to run the government.
Today, the king has no political power, but the monarch still officially offers the job to the leader of the party that can command a majority in the House of Commons.
Starmer leaves Buckingham Palace
Starmer and his family left the palace privately.
While he was seen arriving in a chauffeured black car, helicopter footage did not show Starmer leaving.
Changing of the guard outside and in
The change of British leadership happening inside Buckingham Palace coincided with the changing of the guard outside.
With King Charles III accepting Starmer鈥檚 resignation as prime minister in the Chinese drawing room, the guards who protect the palace were changing shift.
The heavily choreographed ceremony draws thousands of tourists several days a week.
A military band in scarlet tunics and bearskin hats marched from the palace to be replaced by a fresh detachment.
The economy is the first item on the agenda
One of the biggest challenges facing Britain鈥檚 new prime minister is finding a way to kickstart the U.K.鈥檚 sluggish economy so that growing companies and increased output boost government revenue without raising taxes.
It鈥檚 a problem that has bedeviled every prime minister since the financial crisis of 2008. And their failure to solve it is part of the reason that Burnham is the U.K.鈥檚 eighth prime minister in the past 16 years.
The British economy has grown an average of less than 1.5% annually since 2009, compared with an annual average of 3% in the 15 years before the financial crisis.
While devising his economic plan, Burnham will be constrained by promises to reduce government debt, which now equals more than 95% of gross domestic product, the highest since the early 1960s, while not raising taxes on working people.
King accepts Starmer鈥檚 resignation at palace
King Charles III has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Buckingham Palace said.
Starmer was accompanied by his wife, Victoria.
The palace said the king 鈥渨as graciously pleased to accept鈥� Starmer鈥檚 resignation.
Andy Burnham will soon head to the palace to get the king鈥檚 assent to become the next prime minister.
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