Andy Burnham pledges end to political instability as he becomes UK PM

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that Andy Burnham has become the United Kingdom’s prime minister after meeting King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on Monday, making him Britain’s seventh premier in 10 years. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street in London, Burnham said his government would seek to restore stability after years of leadership turnover and promised significant political and economic changes.

Burnham succeeds Keir Starmer, who was removed by Labour colleagues about a month earlier, two years after leading the party to a large election victory. According to the report, Burnham framed his premiership as a chance to reset British politics and said he would announce cost-of-living measures this week while avoiding what he described as risks to the economy. He also said his first instruction would be aimed at ending rough sleeping, with a 10-year plan expected later in 2026.

On foreign policy, Burnham said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would be among the first leaders he contacted to reaffirm UK support for Ukraine. Al Jazeera also reported that he was expected to speak early with US President Donald Trump, and that a White House official later said the call had taken place. Chinese Premier Li Qiang sent congratulations and expressed hopes for cooperation, according to China’s Xinhua news agency.

Burnham has started reshaping the cabinet. John Healey was named finance minister after Rachel Reeves was dismissed, Yvette Cooper moved to health secretary, Ed Miliband became foreign secretary, and Shabana Mahmood stayed on as home secretary. The leadership change comes as Nigel Farage’s Reform UK gains in polls ahead of the next national election, due in 2029.