Andy Burnham has officially become Britain’s latest Prime Minister. The former Greater Manchester mayor was announced as the new Labour leader at a special conference held on Friday. He was the only eligible candidate, receiving 379 endorsements from his party's MPs and the support of 23 affiliate organisations.
This morning, outgoing prime minister Sir Keir Starmer gave his final speech outside Downing Street at 11.15am before tendering his resignation. Following the speech, in which he said Britain was 'stronger and fairer' than two years ago and that he had given his 'full support' to Mr Burnham, he headed to Buckingham Palace to greet the King for the final time and offer his formal resignation.
Mr Burnham, who will also be the fourth prime minister of King Charles III's reign, which began in 2022, headed to the palace after Sir Keir's speech, where he was formally invited by the King to form a government.
Transition of Power Timeline
The day's events followed a strict schedule. At 11.15am, Sir Keir Starmer delivered his last address from 10 Downing Street. He then headed to Buckingham Palace at 11.30am to meet the King and tender his resignation. At 12pm, Andy Burnham arrived at the palace, where he was formally invited by the King to form a government. He left Buckingham Palace at 12.40pm and arrived at 10 Downing Street for the first time as Prime Minister. At 1pm, he gave his first speech to the nation as prime minister.
The Makerfield MP has become the first PM to represent a north-west since Harold Wilson, who was MP for Huyton in Merseyside throughout his two stints in Downing Street from 1964-70 and 1974-76.
Starmer's Final Speech
In his speech, Sir Keir listed some of his achievements in office, touching on Britain's economy, immigration and security. He said: "In six-and-a-half years I took our party from a historic defeat in 2019, changed it so it was fit to face the country, and won a landslide general election victory in 2024. Since then, it has been the privilege of my life to serve you and this great country as prime minister, and I am confident that Britain is now stronger and fairer than it was two years ago. Our economy is stronger. Our public services are on the up, with the biggest fall in waiting times for 17 years. Children are being lifted out of poverty every single day. Immigration is down significantly. Our defence and security are on a far stronger footing, and our international reputation is greatly enhanced."
Sir Keir wished Mr Burnham well in office and said he 'has my full support'. He also thanked the British people for his support, adding: "I go with good grace... I go with a smile."
First Minister Resigns
Lord James Timpson has become the first minister to resign from government ahead of Andy Burnham’s Cabinet reshuffle, it has been reported. The prisons minister was appointed in July 2024 after stepping back from his role as chief executive of the shoemaker and retailer which shares his name. The Timpson Group is known for advocating for the employment of former inmates, and Lord Timpson was brought in by Sir Keir Starmer to shake up the prison system. Mr Burnham is expected to name his Cabinet when he becomes prime minister on Monday. Lord Timpson oversaw the early release scheme during his tenure, which led to tens of thousands of inmates being let out of jail to prevent overcrowding.
In his maiden speech in the House of Lords, he said growing up 'in a madhouse full of foster children' allowed him to see the potential of disadvantaged young people who are 'given a chance in life'. On reforming the prison system, he added: "I’m very aware that prisons must be available as a punishment and a deterrent, but currently our prisons are not working. They create better criminals, not better citizens. That makes the public less safe. So we have to make prisons rehabilitative and to make sure that when offenders are given a second chance, they can seize them. That is good for safety because it reduces crime."
Burnham's Journey to No 10
Andy Burnham's career trajectory follows the classic Westminster path, including roles as Health Secretary and ministerial special adviser. His profile surged during the pandemic when he challenged national lockdown restrictions, positioning himself as a regional champion against diktats from Whitehall. But critics label him a 'political chameleon' or 'captain flip-flop' due to past U-turns on Brexit and economic policy. However, he maintains that his political journey has naturally progressed leftward, influenced deeply by his roots in the North West.
Since launching his leadership bid he has outlined his plans for a massive devolution of power from Whitehall to the regions driven by a new 'No 10 North' – based, naturally, in Manchester – but details remain in short supply. Having twice run for the Labour leadership - and lost out - and being blocked from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election in February, Mr Burnham finally persuaded Makerfield MP Josh Simons to resign, clearing the path for his return to Westminster.
What Lies Ahead
As he prepares to take on the top job, it remains to be seen whether he can finally bring some much-needed stability after such a prolonged period of turmoil. On the eve of entering No 10, with the attention of the world’s media trained on his first moves in office, Mr Burnham said he felt 'fairly relaxed' and 'ready'. He pledged to stay 'close to the ground' and not change, refusing to engage in 'pointless' criticism of political opponents or to get swept up in 'the drifts of social media' as he embarks on his mission to 'do things in a different way'.
