Andy Burnham to become Prime Minister and announce his Cabinet today: Live updates

Preparations are well under way on Downing Street for Keir Starmer’s departure – and Andy Burnham’s arrival.

Cleaners were on hand to shine up the most famous front door in the world and sound engineer Tobias Gough – better known as the ‘Podium Guy’ – has been spotted ahead of Mr Starmer’s final speech.

It may be a single outing for him, however: there is speculation that Mr Burnham will not use a lectern to deliver his first speech on the steps of No 10.

We’ve also seen the first of Mr Burnham’s new neighbours: Chief Mouser, Larry the Cat.

The United Kingdom’s unique political system often perplexes observers in other countries, particularly where new leaders of Government are democratically chosen every time, without fail.

Andy Burnham’s ascension to the Labour throne – and subsequently, to No 10 – without any kind of mandate is, therefore, surprising.

But in the UK, the prime minister invited to form a Government by the King is simply whichever leader of a political party commands a majority in the House of Commons.

This is usually a single party but is, as we saw in 2010 with the Cameron-Clegg government, occasionally propped up with the help of another minority group.

But so long as Labour commands a majority in the Commons, as it does now, its leader can effectively become Prime Minister without having to prove that they are what voters want.

And that leader is only really elected by their local constituents when they vote to make them their local MP – as Andy Burnham was when he ran in the Makerfield by-election last month.

Opposition parties are calling for Mr Burnham to call a general election now and prove that he has a mandate – but there are no signs he plans to do so.

But he will have to face the music eventually. By law, a general election must be held by August 15 2029. Like it or not, he must concede voters will eventually get their say.

Before Andy Burnham has even set foot in No 10, it is clear he faces an uphill battle to convince voters of his legitimacy.

Exclusive polling conducted for the Daily Mail by Survation reveals that voters outside of his Manchester home territory are unconvinced that he speaks for them.

In the South East of England, fewer than a quarter believe his rise to power has been ‘legitimate’, compared with 40 per cent who say it was not.

And 51 per cent of the 2,060 adults asked last week feel he should call an early general election, compared to 31 per cent who believe he can continue without securing a mandate.

Read the full story here:

Welcome to the Daily Mail’s live blog, as Andy Burnham is set to become Prime Minister later today.

In around an hour and a half, Keir Starmer will leave No 10 for the last time.

He will make the short journey to Buckingham Palace where he will meet King Charles III and formally offer his resignation as Prime Minister.

Minutes later, Mr Burnham (seen below this morning) will travel to the Palace himself and the King will ask him to form a Government – after which he will travel to No 10 and begin the tricky task of persuading voters across Britain that he can lead the country without a mandate.

Follow our live blog for updates throughout today.