Andy Burnham became the United Kingdom’s seventh prime minister in a decade on Monday, accepting King Charles III’s invitation to form a government hours after Keir Starmer tendered his resignation at Buckingham Palace. Within his first afternoon in office, Burnham dismissed at least eight cabinet ministers closely associated with his predecessor, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy. In a surprise move, he appointed former defence secretary John Healey — who had quit Starmer’s cabinet in June over inadequate military funding — as Chancellor, and named former Labour leader Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary. Shabana Mahmood was retained as Home Secretary. Burnham also held his first telephone conversations with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, signalling continuity in key foreign relationships.

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street without a lectern or notes, Burnham declared his premiership a “circuit breaker” for a country “fed up” with politics, promising “the biggest changes in the last 40 years” and a 10-year national plan. He pledged immediate measures to ease the cost-of-living crisis, an end to rough sleeping, re-industrialisation through public procurement, and a shift of power away from Westminster. The opposition Conservative Party, through shadow Lords leader Lord True, accused Burnham of avoiding parliamentary scrutiny by not delaying the Commons summer recess, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage dismissed him as a “great chameleon” of British politics. Analysts in London note that the cabinet reshuffle and leftward rhetoric mark a clear break from Starmer’s centrism, but Burnham’s room for manoeuvre is constrained by high public debt, strict fiscal rules, and a parliamentary majority that, while large, was inherited rather than won at a general election.

In his call with Trump, Burnham underlined the UK’s commitment to defence and security, and the two leaders discussed demining the Strait of Hormuz, North Sea oil, and trade. Trump later described the conversation as “very good” and pledged US support, a notable shift after months of strained relations under Starmer, who had initially refused Washington permission to use British bases for strikes on Iran. Burnham also reaffirmed Britain’s “resolute commitment” to Ukraine in his call with Zelensky, and later spoke with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about the war. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other EU leaders expressed hope for closer post-Brexit ties, viewing Burnham’s premiership as an opportunity to deepen cooperation on security and trade. However, officials in Washington and European capitals assess that Burnham’s foreign policy stance largely continues Starmer’s, including support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia.

Burnham inherits a sluggish economy, a persistent cost-of-living crisis, and a resurgent hard-right Reform UK party that leads in some national opinion polls. The US-Iran war has disrupted energy markets and effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to rising global energy prices and domestic inflation. Burnham’s swift “coronation” as Labour leader without a contest, and his elevation to prime minister by virtue of Labour’s parliamentary majority, has drawn criticism from opposition figures who question his democratic mandate. The new government is expected to announce initial cost-of-living measures on Tuesday, with a full 10-year plan to be unveiled later this year. Burnham has also invited Trump to the G20 summit in Manchester next year, a move seen by analysts as an attempt to reset transatlantic ties while showcasing his political base in northern England.