Andy Burnham | Pakistan

Andy Burnham on Tuesday was to hold his first meeting with a dramatically reshaped cabinet of ministers, after removing some key figures and offering others new positions. He handed top jobs to several prominent politicians who helped pave his path to power and ditched senior figures seen as loyal to the previous leader, including finance minister Rachel Reeves. Finance Minister John Healey Britain’s incoming Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey arrives ahead of a cabinet meeting in Downing Street in London on July 21, 2026, a day after Andy Burnham became Britain’s new prime minister. — AFP British political veteran Healey, who quit as defence secretary last month over a funding row, has made a surprise return to run the finance ministry he battled for more money for the military. As defence minister, Healey was a vocal advocate for overhauling existing military infrastructure, upping investment and maintaining tougher responses to Russian aggression. Seen as a trusted and experienced figure, the 66-year-...

Britain’s King Charles III on Monday appointed Andy Burnham as prime minister after outgoing Keir Starmer officially tendered his resignation, the palace said. “Andrew Burnham MP accepted The King’s offer and kissed hands upon his appointment as Prime Minister,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement, adding the king had asked him to form the next government. Burnham became Britain’s sixth prime minister to move into Downing Street in 10 years, with an in-tray overflowing with challenges and little time to make his mark. BBC reported that a large crowd of supporters erupted into applause as Burnham stepped onto Downing Street for his first speech. Delivering his address, Burnham promised to set out new measures to help with the cost of living this week before setting out a new 10-year plan for the country later this year. “Britain needs to show the world that we can regain our stability once again,” Burnham said. “We have not been good enough, and we need to be better.” Promising Britons “some breathing space ...

Veteran UK politician Andy Burnham was confirmed as the new leader of the ruling Labour Party on Friday, and is now set to be Britain’s next prime minister. “There being no other eligibly nominated candidate, it is therefore my honour to declare that the duly elected leader of the Labour Party is Andy Burnham,” interior minister Shabana Mahmood told a special party conference. Burnham takes over from Keir Starmer, who resigned last month as premier after months of political turmoil, scandal and missteps. Speaking in London after being formally confirmed as Labour leader and succeeding Keir Starmer, Burnham said he had not yet made up his mind about the composition of his top team. “I haven’t made any decisions yet about who will be in that top team. But I will soon, and when I have, you will see it reflects all parts of our party, all communities,” Burnham said. Centre-left Labour retains an overwhelming majority in parliament after the 2024 elections, so the leader of the largest party becomes the country’s ...

Former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham was one step away from becoming Britain’s next prime minister on Friday after being appointed leader of the governing Labour Party. Following are the policies he has spoken about since returning to parliament in June, which offer an insight into how he could govern Britain to try to overcome a cost-of-living crisis, revive anaemic economic growth and win back voters. Decentralisation of power Burnham has promised to “bring about the biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen”. His focus is on Whitehall, a part of London dotted with government departments where public officials help elected ministers devise and implement policy, which he said had become overly powerful to the detriment of Britain’s regions. “It is time for Whitehall to accept that growth cannot be ordered from the top down. Instead, it can only be nurtured from the bottom up,” he said in a speech on June 29. While focusing initially on England, where 85 per cent of the United Kingdom’s popula...

Labour mayor Andy Burnham cleared a path to ousting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after winning a parliamentary seat in northern England on Friday in what could be the most consequential local election in more than six decades. Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor nicknamed the “King of the North”, won the contest in Makerfield in northwest England with 24,927 votes, while the candidate for Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK party came second with 15,696 votes. His victory means he will now be able to trigger or take part in a contest to replace Starmer, struggling with some of the worst popularity ratings of any leader. But the key question is when and how Burnham will do it. In his victory speech, Burnham said the result could be a “turning point” for British politics and told his party that this was a final chance to change direction. “We must hear it, we must act upon it, and we must get it right,” he said. “There will be no second chance.” Burnham, a career politician who has expressed support for ...