UK's New Prime Minister to take up Office on Monday
By Nino Kopaleishvili
Monday, July 20, 2026
The Labour Party MP and ex - Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham is to become Britain's 59th Prime Minister on Monday.
On July 17, at a special conference in central London, new leader of the Labour Party Burnham promised that his team will put every effort "to make life affordable" to people again.
"As a leader, I will set a direction that is distinctively labour," the ex-Mayor said on Friday. "I am for us. For all of us. And I want people to say once again that Labour are for us," he stated.
The new leader has already committed to increasing pensions to people born before 1960, ceasing digital ID programme and putting more efforts to set the dispute between creditors and a group of investors of Thames Water company. As of today, the UK's biggest water company owes £17bn as a debt, the media reports.
Burnham replaces Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on this post, who announced his resignation in June.
Burnham has been elected to British Parliament, the House of Commons, as a Labour Party MP several times. He has been a member of Parliament in the House of Commons since June 7, 2001. In 2001-2017 Burnham represented Leigh and since June 18, 2026 Burnham is a Labour Party MP for Makerfield.
The media reports that Burnham has the foremost support from the Labour Party members receiving 322 nominations of the 403 Labour MPs, whereas only 81 nominations are needed. This has made his candidacy irresistible to replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The nominations for the Labour Party have closed for Thursday, July 16. The news agency Reuters reports MP for Makerfield has been formally elected as the Labour Party Leader on Friday, July 17, which results in officially declaring him as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on July 20. The Associated Press says, Burnham is to become prime minister after a meeting with King Charles III on Monday.
The media reports that the new leader of the Labour Party advocates for vocational education, youth employment, reduced energy prices and rail fare. Addressing his supporters in 2026 Makerfield by-election on June 18, Burnham questioned an approach of promoting "trickle -down" economics: "We do need an end to trickle -down economy, we do need to bring down water bills, energy bills, rail fares... to make life more affordable to people."
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair in an interview with BBC a month ago said that "It's possible that we're about to have the 7th prime minister in ten years, a serious country can't do that to itself. And, what is bizarre about the present situation is that we are all talking about politics when the key thing is to talk about policy," Blair told a BBC correspondent. "So, the whole essence should be policy first and politics second," added former prime minister explaining that in today's Britain the social and economic welfare must be given significant attention, and the UK's public sector should embrace the achievements of "the Artificial Revolution," at the same time, fully admitting the uncertainty which accompanies AI.
The Chancellor and MP for Leeds West and Pudsey Rachel Reeves said in an interview with BBC that Burnham's ambitions to lead the Labour Party was "reasonable" and he was preparing towards that goal for a year already. Chancellor Reeves wished Burnham every success and stated new prime minister will inherit a stronger economy.
"But he's becoming prime minister because of the majority that we secured," she said. "I also know because of the work that I have done, Andy will take over an economy that is much stronger than the one that I inherited," the Chancellor said in an interview as quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The Labour Party's new leader served as Secretary of State for Health, Department of Health in the House of Commons in 2009 - 2010. In 2006 - 2007, Burnham served as Minister of State (Department of Health). In 2005-2006, he held the post of Parliamentary Under-Secretary.
On July 15, outgoing prime minister Starmer held his final cabinet meeting with ministers. He announced his decision about resignation on June 22, 2026. "Every decision I've taken has been about putting the country I love first, that is why, I will resign as leader of the Labour Party," said Starmer in his speech on June 22.
Sir Keir Starmer became an elected leader of the Labour Party in April 2020 and then prime minister on July 5, 2024. In May 2015 he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras.
Keir Starmer is the sixth prime minister to resign in ten years and the decision about his resignation is related with the Labour Party's intention to win next general elections. In his speech on June 22, Starmer said: "The question my party asks now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election. I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question and I accept that answer with good grace," he told the press.
The UK's parliamentary democracy permits changing governing party leaders, which shall lead to the change of prime ministers as a result, the Associated Press reports. According to the media next general elections may not be held till 2029.
Since 1945 the United Kingdom has had 18 Prime Ministers elected by general elections. The post of Prime Minister has been established in the UK since 1721.