Andy Burnham will become the UK’s new prime minister today after King Charles formally approves his appointment at Buckingham Palace. The Labour leader will deliver his first speech from Downing Street just before 1pm, following Sir Keir Starmer’s final address at 11:15am.
Burnham’s first moves as prime minister
Burnham is expected to begin assembling his cabinet Monday afternoon, with Shabana Mahmood widely tipped as his chancellor despite tensions with left-wing allies over her past support for tax and welfare cuts. He will also outline a 10-year plan for the country, acknowledging Britain is “not in the right place structurally” and vowing to prioritize stability after seven prime ministers in a decade.
His immediate policy shifts include scrapping Sir Keir Starmer’s digital ID scheme and signaling potential expansion of North Sea oil and gas drilling—a move US President Donald Trump celebrated, claiming Aberdeen residents were “dancing in the streets.”
Key challenges: Housing, social care, and economic stability
Burnham’s agenda faces early tests, including a housing crisis as developers struggle with rising costs and weak demand. His push for affordable housing may clash with economic realities, while Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey urged immediate action on social care, calling the current system a “catastrophe for families, the NHS, and local services.”
Davey demanded guaranteed rights for carers, including respite care and reforms to the “broken” carers allowance, framing the issue as an “existential crisis” requiring cross-party cooperation.
What to watch next
Burnham will visit Manchester later this week to advance his devolution plans, including a proposed “No 10 North” hub. Observers will also monitor his stance on North Sea drilling after Trump’s endorsement and his promise to focus on cost-of-living relief over long-term projects like the axed digital ID program.
