Andy Burnham assumed office as the United Kingdom’s new prime minister this Monday, July 20, 2026, just hours after Keir Starmer formally resigned. Burnham becomes the seventh UK leader since the 2016 Brexit vote, highlighting a period of political instability that the new prime minister aims to reverse.

In his inaugural speech, Burnham emphasized the urgent need to restore stability and make politics work better for the British people. “Great Britain needs to show the world that we can regain our stability, and that is our challenge: to make politics work, to make it work better,” he said.

Burnham outlined plans to tackle the soaring cost of living, promising a comprehensive 10-year strategy to be unveiled later this year. Meanwhile, he committed to immediate measures starting tomorrow to ease the financial burden on households.

Among his announced priorities are reforms in education, boosting youth employment, expanding mental health support, and increasing the construction of social housing. Burnham framed these initiatives as a fair and sustainable path to reduce welfare costs, meet fiscal responsibilities, and honor defense commitments to international partners.

“Aiding citizens to enjoy a good quality of life means building a state focused on prevention and investing in people’s success rather than paying for failure; that work begins now,” he added.

Burnham’s first act as prime minister included reshuffling key cabinet positions, removing Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Finance Minister Rachel Reeves, both of whom confirmed their departures on the social platform X. Their replacements have yet to be announced.

The former Manchester mayor took over the Labour Party leadership last Friday, July 17, following Starmer’s resignation amid internal party pressures and declining poll numbers. Starmer’s tenure, the shortest for a Labour prime minister, ended with a farewell speech outside 10 Downing Street on Monday.

Reflecting on his time in office, Starmer expressed pride in his achievements, including a stronger economy, reduced public service wait times, significantly lowered immigration, and enhanced national defense and international reputation. He also warned of ongoing global threats aimed at dividing the UK over its values and support for Ukraine.

Burnham acknowledged the UK’s difficult past decades, citing the centralization of political power and privatization of the economy since the 1980s, which led to deindustrialization and regional decline. His leadership promises a shift toward more collaborative politics focused on problem-solving rather than political gain.

For migrants and international residents in the UK, Burnham’s focus on social housing, mental health, and youth employment signals a potential shift toward a more inclusive and supportive society. As the country navigates this new chapter, many will watch closely to see if Burnham can deliver the stability and progress he envisions.