Andy Burnham to be sworn in as UK's new prime minister today

Labour Party leader Andy Burnham is set to be formally appointed as the 59th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom today (Monday, July 20), following Keir Starmer's resignation . The 56-year-old politician will form a government at the invitation of King Charles III after being confirmed as Labour leader without a contested ballot .

In accordance with Britain's constitutional convention, King Charles will accept Keir Starmer's resignation before inviting Burnham to Buckingham Palace. This traditional process, known as "Kissing Hands," formally marks the transfer of power. Following the ceremony, Burnham will travel to 10 Downing Street to deliver his first address to the nation as Prime Minister .

Burnham, a long-serving influential figure in the Labour Party, has been the Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017 . His firm stance in protecting the interests of the North of England during the COVID-19 pandemic and his vocal advocacy for regional development earned him the nickname "King of the North" . He returned to Parliament after winning a by-election and was confirmed as Labour leader after securing 379 nominations from Labour MPs — around 94 percent of the parliamentary party — with no other candidate reaching the required threshold .

Ahead of assuming office, Burnham said he wants to bring a new perspective to politics, stressing: "I will be a leader for the north, the south, the east and the west" . His government's primary goals will be reducing the cost of living, tackling regional inequality, and ensuring equal opportunities for people across all parts of the country .

Under Britain's parliamentary system, a change of leader within the governing party does not automatically trigger a general election. The new leader of the majority party in the House of Commons can directly assume the role of Prime Minister. As such, Andy Burnham becomes PM without a general election, with the next UK general election scheduled for 2029 following the 2024 election .