According to Al Jazeera, Andy Burnham, known as the 'King of the North', is set to become the UK's new prime minister on Monday after winning the Labour Party leadership unopposed following Keir Starmer's resignation.
Burnham, who left Westminster nearly a decade ago to become the mayor of Greater Manchester, returned to Parliament just a few weeks ago. He will now become the seventh person to hold the prime ministerial office in the last decade.
Who is Andy Burnham?
Burnham, 56, previously served in several Labour governments before leaving Westminster in 2017 to become the mayor of Greater Manchester. There, he earned the nickname 'King of the North' for his strong defence of northern England during the Covid-19 pandemic and his regional investment campaigns.
Known for his down-to-earth style, Burnham said during his leadership campaign: 'I was serious when I said I would do politics differently.' His supporters say this style has made him one of the most popular figures in the Labour Party. However, Burnham inherits the same challenges Starmer faced, including a sluggish economy and high living costs.
Transition to prime minister
Burnham is expected to formally accept King Charles III's invitation to form a government on Monday. After Starmer submits his resignation to the King at Buckingham Palace, Burnham will go to 10 Downing Street to make his first speech as prime minister and begin appointing his cabinet.
For Burnham, who will become prime minister the moment he accepts the King's invitation, the traditional 'kissing of hands' ceremony will take place. Modern prime ministers simply greet the monarch during a private audience. He will then make his first statement outside Downing Street, and the entire process will be completed within a few hours.
Unlike the months-long presidential transitions in the US, the UK prime minister's move takes just a few hours. The famous black door has no keyhole on the outside and can only be opened from the inside by a security guard on duty 24 hours a day.
First actions
Burnham will begin appointing his cabinet as soon as he takes office. He will name top posts such as the chancellor, foreign secretary and home secretary. His government will start work immediately, without needing parliamentary approval or a swearing-in ceremony.
According to several media outlets, one of Burnham's first major decisions could be to place Thames Water into a Special Administration Regime. The move would put the heavily criticised company under temporary public control while it is restructured.
In his first speech as Labour leader, Burnham said he would chart 'a new path' for the UK. He said his government would focus on making life more affordable and reducing regional inequalities. 'This change is the most significant moment in our politics in 40 years. It will lead us to a country where life is more affordable and all people and regions rise from where they are,' he said.
Burnham also stressed that he would govern for every part of the United Kingdom: 'I will be the leader of the North, the South, the East and the West, of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.'
Why no general election?
The British parliamentary system allows the ruling party to change its leader without a general election. Because Labour holds a majority in the House of Commons, its new leader automatically becomes prime minister. The next general election does not have to be held until 2029, five years after Labour's 2024 election victory.
Keir Starmer announced on 22 June that he would resign as Labour leader after less than two years. His premiership had come under increasing pressure following a series of political controversies, including his appointment of Peter Mandelson, who had close ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as the UK's ambassador to the US.
The pressure intensified after Labour suffered heavy losses in May's local elections. When Burnham returned to Parliament by winning a by-election, many Labour MPs rallied around him as Starmer's successor. Starmer's resignation triggered a Labour leadership contest. Under party rules, candidates needed the support of at least one-fifth of Labour MPs to enter the race. Burnham easily met that threshold, and with no other candidate emerging, he was elected unopposed.
