‘King of the North’ Andy Burnham becomes 7th British prime minister in a decade - NBC News

What the report says

NBC News reported that Andy Burnham was formally appointed British prime minister in London on Monday, replacing Keir Starmer after becoming leader of the governing Labour Party. Burnham, 56, known by the nickname “King of the North” from his time as Greater Manchester mayor, is now the United Kingdom’s seventh prime minister in just over a decade and its fifth in four years.

According to NBC, Starmer stepped down after election setbacks, policy reversals and scandals weakened his position. Under Britain’s parliamentary system, a governing party can change its leader during a parliamentary term, making that person prime minister without a general election. Starmer resigned to King Charles III at Buckingham Palace before Burnham was invited by the monarch to form a government.

Burnham used his first remarks outside No. 10 Downing St. to promise major changes and a longer-term plan for the country, while also pledging near-term help on living costs and action to end rough sleeping. His early Cabinet choices included keeping Shabana Mahmood as interior minister, appointing Ed Miliband as foreign minister and naming John Healey as finance minister, moves that NBC said had already prompted party tensions.

The new prime minister takes office amid pressure over wages, the cost of living, the National Health Service, immigration, Europe and the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in polling. NBC also reported that President Donald Trump said he had spoken with Burnham and expected to meet him, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders offered congratulations. Burnham has signaled continued support for Ukraine and said rejoining the European Union is not an immediate priority.