Andy Burnham to become British Prime Minister – seventh head of government within ten years

Background: Seven prime ministers in ten years

In his speech following his appointment as Labour Party leader on Friday, Burnham acknowledged the mistakes of his generation. "We must admit that my generation of politicians – myself included – has failed to stand up to a political culture and an economic model that does not work well enough for the broad population," he said. At the same time, he warned against infighting: "We will not defeat Britain's new right if we are consumed by internal struggles and pull in different directions."

The 56-year-old Burnham announced that he would not seek to outbid the Greens on the left nor outflank Reform UK on the right. At the end of his speech he said: "I have not always got everything right, and I apologise for the mistakes I have made. But I have always given my all."

The frequency of changes of government has sparked a broad debate in Great Britain about the stability of the political system. The Guardian asked in a headline: "The ungovernable country? Why Britain keeps losing its prime ministers." The Conversation pointed out that of twelve prime ministers between 1945 and 2010, only Margaret Thatcher was ousted from office by her own party.

From Brexit to Partygate: a chain of crises

Since 2010, only David Cameron has left office voluntarily – after the 2016 Brexit vote, whose complex implementation absorbed political energy for years. Liz Truss held the shortest term of office in British history; a tabloid at the time placed a lettuce leaf next to her portrait and live-streamed whether the vegetable or Truss would last longer – the lettuce won.

During the Covid pandemic, Boris Johnson and cabinet members had attended prohibited parties, known as the "Partygate" scandal. In Starmer's crisis, Reform UK under Farage was at times well ahead in the polls. Farage had previously made headlines over controversial donations.

Farage, Reform UK and the Clacton by-election

Farage gave up his parliamentary seat in a political manoeuvre and wants to stand again in the required by-election in the Clacton constituency. His only opponent is the comedian Jon Harvey in his role as Count Binface. US President Donald Trump had previously mocked Starmer as "not a Winston Churchill" because his predecessor had refused unconditional support during the Iran crisis.

Burnham's programme between Greens and Reform UK

The office of Prime Minister, once associated with towering figures such as Churchill and Thatcher, "has developed quite a few cracks," as a recent article summed up. The comparison with the German debate over the "firewall" against the AfD suggests itself – there too the question arises of how a political centre can contain the rise of populist forces.

Burnham faces the task of rebuilding Labour after its defeat by Reform UK without falling into the trap of internal directional disputes. His appointment by King Charles III also marks a symbolic fresh start in a phase in which confidence in Britain's political stability has been visibly shaken.