‘King of the North’ Andy Burnham to take UK Prime Minister’s crown
Andy Burnham has been confirmed as the new leader of the UK Labour Party and is set to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. Known as the 'King of the North,' Burnham aims to shift the government toward a problem-solving approach.
Why it matters
This represents a major leadership transition in UK politics, signaling a potential shift in policy direction for the ruling Labour Party.
Andy Burnham at Labour's Special Conference, where he was confirmed as the Labour Party's new leader and the country's next Prime Minister. Photo / AFP
Andy Burnham boasts man-of-the-people vibes but, beneath the casual exterior, lies ruthless ambition and political reinvention that has helped propel him to become Britain’s next Prime Minister.
The 56-year-old was appointed leader of the ruling Labour Party on Friday at the third time of trying, and will replace Sir Keir Starmer in 10 Downing St on Monday.
Ditching his signature T-shirt and casual jacket for a suit and tie, the former Greater Manchester Mayor vowed in his acceptance speech to take “a problem-solving rather than a point-scoring approach” to government.
He said: “Let’s have the courage to fix the big things that politics has neglected, like social care, and have the conviction to go out there together and argue for our plans.”
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in