Andy Burnham has officially become the United Kingdom’s new prime minister following a meeting with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace.
The King invited Burnham to form a new government on Monday after Keir Starmer formally submitted his resignation. Buckingham Palace confirmed that Burnham accepted the appointment during the audience.
Burnham takes office after replacing Starmer as leader of the governing Labour Party. He becomes the seventh person to serve as British prime minister within the past decade.
The former Greater Manchester mayor is expected to begin forming his cabinet and announce the priorities of his new administration.
His government will face pressure to address Britain’s cost-of-living crisis, weak economic growth and growing public frustration with political instability.
