Andy Burnham appointed UK prime minister on July 20, 2026

Andy Burnham became the United Kingdom's new prime minister on Monday, July 20, 2026, following a meeting with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. He immediately embarked on a series of high-stakes international calls and began assembling his government, pledging a decade-long plan to address the nation's cost-of-living pressures and signaling a political shift to the left.

Burnham, 56, succeeded Keir Starmer, who resigned after two years in office. Standing outside 10 Downing Street with his wife, Marie-France van Heel, Burnham vowed to create "a new political model" and "build a new economy." He promised to "give people some breathing space" from living costs, with initial announcements expected Tuesday. His first instruction, he said, would be a pledge to end rough sleeping, a goal he pursued as mayor of Greater Manchester.

Within hours of taking office, Burnham held separate calls with U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A U.K. government spokesperson said Burnham underlined his "commitment to defense and security" to Trump. The U.S. president later posted on Truth Social that they had a "very good conversation," discussing trade,...