Andy Burnham officially became the United Kingdom's new prime minister on Monday after meeting King Charles III at Buckingham Palace and accepting the monarch's invitation to form a new government.
The leadership transition came after Keir Starmer formally resigned as prime minister, ending his two-year tenure in office. Before leaving Downing Street, Starmer delivered a farewell speech, saying he was proud of what his government had achieved.
"I am confident that Britain is now stronger and fairer than it was two years ago," Starmer said.
"I go with good grace, I go with a smile, and I go proud of everything that we have achieved."
Following Starmer's resignation, Burnham travelled to Buckingham Palace, where King Charles officially invited him to form the next government, a request he accepted.
The 56-year-old becomes Britain's sixth prime minister in the last decade and now faces the challenge of tackling the country's cost-of-living crisis, restoring public confidence in government and reviving economic growth.
In an interview with The Times ahead of taking office, Burnham said he intends to chart a different course for the country after years of political instability.
"What we've been doing hasn't been working. That's the way I see it," he said.
"I am going to try and do things in a different way."
His team said his first speech as prime minister would outline his priorities for restoring confidence in government, easing pressure on households and devolving more powers to regional communities.
Burnham is also expected to unveil his first Cabinet, with attention focused on who will succeed Rachel Reeves as finance minister.
The former Mayor of Greater Manchester, widely known as the "King of the North," was chosen by the Labour Party to lead the government after Starmer stepped down, with many Labour MPs viewing him as the party's strongest option to counter Nigel Farage's Reform UK Party.
The leadership transition came after Keir Starmer formally resigned as prime minister, ending his two-year tenure in office. Before leaving Downing Street, Starmer delivered a farewell speech, saying he was proud of what his government had achieved.
"I am confident that Britain is now stronger and fairer than it was two years ago," Starmer said.
"I go with good grace, I go with a smile, and I go proud of everything that we have achieved."
Following Starmer's resignation, Burnham travelled to Buckingham Palace, where King Charles officially invited him to form the next government, a request he accepted.
The 56-year-old becomes Britain's sixth prime minister in the last decade and now faces the challenge of tackling the country's cost-of-living crisis, restoring public confidence in government and reviving economic growth.
In an interview with The Times ahead of taking office, Burnham said he intends to chart a different course for the country after years of political instability.
"What we've been doing hasn't been working. That's the way I see it," he said.
"I am going to try and do things in a different way."
His team said his first speech as prime minister would outline his priorities for restoring confidence in government, easing pressure on households and devolving more powers to regional communities.
Burnham is also expected to unveil his first Cabinet, with attention focused on who will succeed Rachel Reeves as finance minister.
The former Mayor of Greater Manchester, widely known as the "King of the North," was chosen by the Labour Party to lead the government after Starmer stepped down, with many Labour MPs viewing him as the party's strongest option to counter Nigel Farage's Reform UK Party.
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