Andy Burnham Secures Premiership as Keir Starmer Exits Office

Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer will leave 10 Downing Street on July 20, 2026, handing power to Andy Burnham. Starmer's final days in office were marked by a series of legacy-defining moves, including the proscription of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Council, the passage of the Hillsborough Law establishing a duty of candour for public servants, and a trade deal with Switzerland.

On July 14, Starmer conducted a final diplomatic tour in Paris, attending Bastille Day celebrations and a "coalition of the willing" summit with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During the events, Macron awarded Starmer the Légion d’honneur for his leadership in supporting Ukraine and securing European stability.

Returning to London, Starmer hosted a reception for domestic campaigners before facing his final Prime Minister's Questions on July 15. During the emotional session, he received a standing ovation from Labour MPs and asserted he left the country in better shape than he found it, officially declaring the end of his political journey.

Andy Burnham, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester and MP for Makerfield, secured the Labour leadership after receiving nominations from 369 of 403 MPs, making a contested race mathematically impossible. Burnham also won the endorsement of the Unison trade union. He has identified the cost of living as the primary issue of his upcoming administration and intends to prioritize economic growth and the devolution of power from Westminster.