Burnham becomes UK prime minister after meeting King Charles

Andy Burnham was appointed Britain's prime minister on Monday after meeting King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, following Keir Starmer's formal resignation.

The royal household confirmed the appointment in a statement.

How was Andy Burnham appointed as prime minister?

Buckingham Palace said Burnham "accepted The King's offer and kissed hands upon his appointment as Prime Minister," after King Charles invited him to form the next government. The appointment followed Starmer's formal resignation earlier Monday, completing the transfer of power between the two Labour leaders.

Burnham, 56, takes office two years after Starmer led Labour to a landslide election victory that ended 14 years of Conservative rule. Starmer stepped down last month after a series of scandals, policy reversals and political setbacks eroded his authority.

What happens after Burnham's appointment as prime minister?

Following his audience with the king, Burnham was due to deliver his first address outside 10 Downing Street, where he planned to set out his priorities for the new government. His team said the speech would outline plans to restore confidence in government, ease cost-of-living pressures, boost economic growth and devolve more powers to regional authorities.

He is also expected to announce senior cabinet appointments later on Monday, with attention focused on who will succeed Rachel Reeves as finance minister.

What has Andy Burnham said about his plans as prime minister?

In an interview with The Times published on Sunday, Burnham said Britain needed a fresh direction after years of political instability.

"What we've been doing hasn't been working," he said. "I am going to try and do things in a different way."

Who is Andy Burnham?

Burnham is a former mayor of Greater Manchester known as the "King of the North." Labour drafted him in after Starmer's resignation, with party lawmakers viewing him as their strongest prospect for countering Nigel Farage's anti-immigration Reform UK party.