Andy Burnham is the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

First official act against homelessness

One of his first official actions was directed against homelessness. "I will now walk through the door behind me and issue my first instruction to end homelessness on our streets in our country," Burnham said toward the end of his short speech. The longest hug afterward went to his mother Eileen; his father Kenneth suffers from dementia, Burnham told the Times, "and doesn't know I'm becoming Prime Minister."

Burnham is the 59th Prime Minister since the office was established in 1721. He is the seventh head of government in ten years. In those 305 years there have naturally been periods of instability before, commentators noted; but on Monday the country experienced the sixth change in its most important government office since the Brexit referendum of 2016.

Predecessor Starmer draws a positive balance

Burnham succeeds his party colleague Keir Starmer, who after two years in office — following poor results for the Labour Party in the regional and local elections in May and growing internal party criticism — had announced his resignation as party leader and head of government. Starmer had led Labour to a convincing election victory in the summer of 2024, but had never truly been able to use the comfortable parliamentary majority due to internal disputes. The right-wing populist party Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, was the big winner of the May elections and has led the aggregated Politico polling averages for more than a year.

Upon leaving his official residence in Downing Street on Monday, Starmer told reporters he was convinced that Britain today was "stronger and fairer" than when he took office two years ago. He was leaving "with a smile" and was "proud of everything we have achieved." In his final, just four-minute address in front of Downing Street, the outgoing Prime Minister assured his successor of "my full and unequivocal support."

Burnham's political career began a quarter of a century ago. In 2001 he was first elected to the House of Commons. Under Prime Minister Tony Blair he served as a parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Home Office. Under his successor Gordon Brown he served, among other posts, as Health Secretary in the 2000s. In 2010 and 2015 he had already twice unsuccessfully tried to be elected leader of the Labour Party.

From the "King of the North" to Downing Street

In 2017 Burnham left London and became Mayor of the Greater Manchester metropolitan region. In the most recent election he was returned to office with nearly two-thirds of the vote. Because of his popularity in the north of England he was soon dubbed the "King of the North." Only a month ago he returned to the London House of Commons, where he had previously held a seat for 15 years at the start of the century.

In a recent poll, respondents were shown his photo; 40 percent did not even know his name. The BBC had recently sought to answer: "Who is Andy Burnham?" The new man is regarded as Labour's great hope for steering the country out of the crisis.

Among the new Prime Minister's projects are a cap on bus tickets in England at the equivalent of €2.36, greater state influence over the long underperforming privatized water suppliers, and a raise in the tax-free allowance, which despite rising food prices is to remain unchanged until 2031. He also wants to bring energy supply, house-building and public transport more firmly under public control.

Domestic reforms and foreign policy

Burnham also announced his intention to decentralize political and economic power more strongly from the capital to all parts of the country. Among other things, he said he would have to scrape together £15 billion for the rearmament of the armed forces — a legacy left by Starmer. Economists at the Labour-affiliated Resolution Foundation believe that nearly €19 billion will become available over the coming four years for tax relief or infrastructure projects.

In foreign policy, Burnham reaffirmed support for Ukraine. "I will stand by his side 100 percent," he said with reference to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he said he would soon call. Britain must show the world that it can regain its stability. According to the White House, there has already been an initial phone call between Burnham and US President Donald Trump.

Burnham received numerous congratulations from abroad on Monday, including from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron. "Especially in these times, our deep bond is proving itself," Merz said, according to a statement issued in Berlin. He said he wanted to "exchange views with Burnham on the challenges that lie ahead."

Congratulations from abroad and unanswered questions

A return to the European Union after Brexit appears ruled out even under the new Prime Minister. Possible candidates for the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer include the current Energy and Climate Protection Minister Ed Miliband and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Burnham plans to present the details of his reforms on Tuesday.

He closed his freely delivered speech with words including: "Let us make this the moment when Britain can believe again and we bring hope back." ZDF editor Sonja Dawson pointed out that many of Burnham's plans would cost a great deal of money. "Difficult decisions lie ahead on taxes, spending and debt if Andy Burnham wants to extend his success in the north to the whole country."

The Labour man has been married since 2000 to Marie-France van Heel, a native of the Netherlands whom he has known since their university days. The couple have three adult children. Most recently, Burnham posed with his wife in front of the famous black door with the golden number ten. The next general election is scheduled for 2029; the United Kingdom uses a first-past-the-post system with 650 constituencies, of which 326 are needed for a parliamentary majority.