Andy Burnham Becomes UK Prime Minister After Starmer Resignation

After securing the support of 379 Labour MPs, Andy Burnham was formally appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on July 20, 2026, succeeding Sir Keir Starmer. Starmer resigned following a collapse in public approval and a parliamentary revolt. In his final days, Starmer conducted a farewell tour of France, where he received the Légion d’honneur from President Emmanuel Macron for his leadership of the "coalition of the willing" supporting Ukraine.

In his inaugural address at 10 Downing Street, Burnham pledged a "circuit breaker for Britain," introducing a 10-year plan to reindustrialize the country and shift power from Westminster to the regions via a "No 10 North" base in Manchester. His immediate priorities include ending rough sleeping with a £340 million package and providing cost-of-living relief. On July 21, he announced the removal of VAT from household electricity bills starting October 1, a measure funded by scrapping Starmer's £1.8 billion digital ID program.

Burnham implemented a sweeping cabinet reshuffle, replacing Rachel Reeves with John Healey as Chancellor of the Exchequer and appointing Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary. He also signaled a shift in foreign policy, suggesting tougher sanctions on Israel over Gaza. Internationally, Burnham reaffirmed steadfast support for Ukraine during a call with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and held a diplomatic conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding trade and North Sea oil. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the new administration's lack of a detailed plan, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage demanded a general election.