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Burnham takes office
Andy Burnham became Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade on Monday after Keir Starmer agreed to step down, with Burnham appointed unchallenged and confirmed after meeting King Charles III at Buckingham Palace.
“Andy Burnham has needed two decades, two defeats in internal party elections, and a detour through Manchester to reach Downing Street”
Standing outside the No. 10 door after becoming PM, Burnham said, “I will soon go through that door behind me and issue my first instruction to end rough sleeping in our country,” and the statement was greeted with cheers.
Burnham, 56, arrived at Downing Street after Starmer’s farewell speech outside No. 10 and after Starmer drove to Buckingham Palace to tender his resignation to the king, as the handover played out without a general election.
The Times of India described Burnham’s first pledge as a contrast to outgoing PM Keir Starmer’s first policy to cut winter fuel payments to pensioners, while NBC News said Burnham would later announce a “10-year plan” for Britain and would give “some help with the cost of living” now.
NBC News also reported that President Donald Trump posted on X after a call with Burnham, writing, “We will be meeting in the not too distant future for topics of mutual interest.”
Homelessness pledge contested
In his first pledge as prime minister, Burnham promised to end rough sleeping in England and said he would try to get people off the streets “at the earliest opportunity,” while the Guardian reported he allocated an additional £340m over three years.
The Guardian said officials would put an extra £340m into its homelessness strategy, equivalent to £113m a year, and that the money would pay for 1,200 new homes and help support 3,000 people over five years.
Homelessness campaigners welcomed the pledge, but the Guardian reported critics were sceptical because Burnham had overseen four years of rising street homelessness as Greater Manchester mayor.
The Guardian quoted James Cleverly, the shadow housing secretary, saying, “His record in Manchester showed initial success, then failure once his focus shifted,” and it also said he accused Burnham of taking money from local projects to fund the announcement.
CNN, meanwhile, reported that Burnham issued his first instruction to end rough sleeping and that his team announced an extra £340 million ($457 million) as part of the drive, while Shelter said “At least 4,600 people in England sleep rough every night.”
Cabinet, stability, and stakes
Burnham’s first day also included cabinet reshuffling, with NBC News reporting he reappointed Shabana Mahmood as interior minister while moving members of Starmer’s team out of their roles.
“- Published Andy Burnham has replaced Sir Keir Starmer as UK prime minister, after becoming Labour leader last week”
NBC News said former Labour leader Ed Miliband was appointed as foreign minister in place of Yvette Cooper, and that John Healey became finance minister, after Healey had accused Starmer of failing to spend enough money on keeping the country safe.
The Guardian reported that Steve Reed, the housing secretary who oversaw the previous homelessness strategy, was sacked from his post on Monday as Burnham began the process of putting his cabinet together.
Al Jazeera framed Burnham’s agenda as an effort to end political instability, quoting him saying, “Britain needs to show the world that we can regain our stability once again,” and it added that he pledged a “circuit-breaker for Britain” with “the biggest changes in the last 40 years.”
CNBC reported that U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Burnham’s plan to fast-track oil and gas exploration in already-licensed fields in the North Sea, while also noting Trump had called North Sea oil “invaluable” and said it would take the U.K. from a “Poverty Stricken Disaster.”
