Andy Burnham has visited Buckingham Palace and received an invitation from the King to form a Government
King Charles Britain’s King Charles III shakes hands with Britain’s incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Andy Burnham has been confirmed as Prime Minister after meeting King Charles, who asked him to form a government during the traditional audience at Buckingham Palace, known as the “kissing of hands”.
Mr Burnham recently returned to Parliament after securing victory in the Makerfield by‑election, having previously served as mayor of Manchester between 2017 and 2026. Upon becoming Labour leader, he said he wanted to give people “breathing room” amid rising living costs.
The Prime Minister is expected to set out his Cabinet later on Monday, with appointments yet to be disclosed.
Earlier, departing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer gave a farewell address outside Downing Street, saying that he ‘changed’ the Labour Party, making it ‘fit to lead’.
“I’m about to visit His Majesty The King and offer my resignation to close the book on my time as Prime Minister,” he began. “My work is done. In six and a half years, I took our party from a historic defeat in 2019 – changed it, so it was fit to face the country, and won a landslide general election victory in 2024.
“It has been the privilege of my life to serve you and this great country as Prime Minister. And I am confident that Britain is now stronger and fairer than it was two years ago.”
Reports have suggested cost-of-living support offered by Burnham could include action on energy bills, including allowing more oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.
Environmental campaigners have urged him to stick to Labour’s 2024 manifesto, which promised not to issue new licences for North Sea drilling, arguing they would not reduce energy bills. Mr Burnham could also face a decision on whether to temporarily nationalise Thames Water as the firm struggles with a £20 billion debt pile.
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