Andy Burnham has officially become the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after Sir Keir Starmer tendered his resignation to King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, bringing an end to his premiership. Burnham formally assumed office on July 20, 2026, after accepting the King’s invitation to form a new government.
Before leaving office, Starmer delivered a farewell address outside 10 Downing Street, describing his time as prime minister as “the privilege of my life.” He said he was departing with the belief that Britain was “stronger and fairer” than when he took office, while reflecting on Labour’s journey from its heavy defeat in the 2019 general election to its landslide victory in 2024.
Following Starmer’s audience with the King, Burnham travelled to Buckingham Palace, where he was formally invited to form a government in the constitutional ceremony traditionally known as “kissing hands.” By accepting the King’s invitation, Burnham immediately became Britain’s new prime minister before returning to Downing Street to deliver his first address to the nation.
In his inaugural speech, Burnham acknowledged growing public frustration with politics and called for a new standard of leadership.
“It requires my generation of politicians to raise our game,” he said, adding that Britain must restore political stability and rebuild public confidence in government.
Burnham, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester, only returned to Parliament in June after winning a by-election in Makerfield, having stepped down from the mayoralty to re-enter national politics. He was elected Labour Party leader on 16 July 2026 before succeeding Starmer as prime minister.
His appointment makes him the seventh UK prime minister since the 2016 Brexit referendum, underscoring a decade of political change in Britain.
Starmer’s resignation followed months of mounting pressure within the governing Labour Party over economic performance, immigration policy and a series of political controversies, alongside significant losses in the May local elections. Burnham emerged as the sole candidate in the subsequent Labour leadership contest after securing overwhelming support from Labour MPs.
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