Andy Burnham has visited Buckingham Palace and received an invitation from the King to form a Government
Andy Burnham has formally become Prime Minister after meeting King Charles at Buckingham Palace.
In the traditional “kissing of hands” audience, Mr Burnham received the monarch’s approval to form a government, a confirmation later issued in a statement by the Palace.
The newly elected Labour leader, who returned to Westminster only recently after serving as Manchester mayor, has pledged to give people “breathing room” against the rising cost of living. He is expected to unveil his first Cabinet later this afternoon, having remained notably tight‑lipped about his choices.
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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