Andy Burnham faced a devastating blow just hours after replacing Keir Starmer as Labour leader and becoming the UK's seventh prime minister in a decade. The Makerfield MP officially took over today, insisting he has a plan for Britain, but social media users quickly hit out, demanding a general election and questioning his mandate.
Burnham's Speech and Immediate Backlash
During his speech in Central London, Burnham promised to change British politics to be less toxic and more cooperative. He said: 'We must recognise that this generation of politicians, myself included, have failed to challenge a political culture and an economic model that simply doesn't work well enough for ordinary people.' He also pledged 'the most significant change moment in our politics for 40 years.'
However, minutes after his speech, viewers took to social media in a devastating blow for the new PM. One X user fumed: 'Need a general election! We didn't vote for you as the Prime Minister!' Another echoed: 'We didn't vote for you.' A third wrote: 'General Election now.' A fourth said: 'More waffle crap from an unelected leader, this isn't democracy.' Another argued: 'A man who twice lost a leadership contest to Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn is now to be our new PM through the back door we didn't vote for him a General Election needs to be called!'
Transition of Power
Burnham has not yet decided his cabinet but says it will reflect voices from across the party. The transition comes as Starmer officially stepped down as Labour leader on Thursday, bidding farewell to his former government. Burnham will enter Number 10 as the seventh prime minister in a decade, amid criticism he has failed to spell out a blueprint for government.
