LONDON — Andy Burnham was formally sworn in as the United Kingdom's new prime minister after King Charles invited him to form a government, completing the transfer of power following the resignation of Keir Starmer and marking the country's latest leadership change under the governing Labour Party.
Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester and recently elected Labour leader, accepted the King's invitation at Buckingham Palace before traveling to 10 Downing Street, where he delivered his first address as prime minister. In his speech, he acknowledged the frequency of recent changes in Britain's leadership and pledged to restore political stability while outlining plans to address the cost of living, housing, employment and rough sleeping.
"I have just come from Buckingham Palace, where I have accepted His Majesty the King's invitation to form a government," Burnham said outside Downing Street. He said his administration would soon introduce measures to give households "some breathing space" amid living-cost pressures and announced that his first instruction would be to begin work aimed at ending rough sleeping.
Earlier, Starmer formally tendered his resignation to King Charles after serving as prime minister for just over two years following Labour's landslide election victory in 2024. In his farewell remarks outside Downing Street, Starmer said it had been "the privilege of my life" to serve as prime minister and wished Burnham success, saying he had his "full support."
Burnham has pledged to present a broader 10-year plan for Britain later this year while moving quickly to form a new Cabinet. British media reported several senior ministerial appointments shortly after he entered Downing Street, reflecting an effort to unite different factions within Labour as the new government begins work.
The transition makes Burnham Britain's seventh prime minister since 2016 and the fourth to serve during King Charles' reign, underscoring a period of sustained political turnover in the country. Constitutional procedures required the outgoing prime minister to resign before the monarch invited Burnham to form a new administration.
Foreign leaders began responding shortly after the transition. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Burnham, expressing confidence that bilateral relations would continue to strengthen on the basis of shared democratic values.
Burnham is expected to chair his first Cabinet meeting as prime minister and begin advancing the government's initial policy agenda in the coming days.
