Andy Burnham takes over as UK prime minister, calls for 'new political model'
New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham assumed power Monday morning, vowing to move authority away from London as his new government confronts economic strain, political instability and potential friction with Washington."We will change politics, to make it more collaborative, more about problem-solving than point scoring," Burnham said outside 10 Downing Street."And we will take power out of here and carry it into every postcode in the land, so that they can do more."And, in doing more, build a new economy where we put life's essentials back under stronger public control to make them affordable to you again – reindustrializing Britain, using public procurement to back British industry."WHO IS ANDY BURNHAM? THE TRUMP CRITIC SET TO BECOME THE UK'S NEXT PRIME MINISTERAndy Burnham delivers his inaugural speech as UK's new Prime Minister on on July 20, 2026 in London, England.
The Member of Parliament for Makerfield becomes the UK's 59th Prime Minister, succeeding Sir Keir Starmer, who resigned as leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister in June.(Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)Burnham, 56, was greeted by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, London, on Monday before his swearing-in and first remarks.
King Charles formally requested that Burnham form a new administration, and Burnham accepted."I have just come from Buckingham Palace, where I have accepted His Majesty the King's invitation to form a government," Burnham's brief introduction began."{And in doing so, I am acutely conscious that I am the sixth person in the last 10 years to walk up this street: The seventh Prime Minister since 2016, making this a moment for reflection and new resolution. "It requires my generation of politicians to raise our game and rise to the new challenge.
Britain needs to show the world that we can regain our stability once again, and that is our challenge to make politics work, to make it work better," he said."I know people at home are fed u...