LONDON, July 20. /Dunyo IA/. Andy Burnham officially became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after meeting King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, becoming the sixth person to hold the office in the past decade, reports Dunyo IA correspondent, citing the BBC.

He accepted the appointment as prime minister shortly after his predecessor, Keir Starmer, travelled to the palace to formally submit his resignation to the monarch.

In his first speech as head of government, Andy Burnham said the United Kingdom had reached a moment of “reflection and determination.” He said the country needed to honestly assess its existing challenges and move toward a more stable and responsible approach to governance.

The new prime minister emphasized that he understands the significance of frequent changes in government leadership and the need to restore public confidence in the future. He said he intends to rebuild trust in the Labour Party, which has been in power since 2024, and ensure that political stability translates into improvements in people’s daily lives.

One of the main challenges facing the new government will be the economy. Andy Burnham has promised to introduce measures to reduce the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and prepare a 10-year national development plan within the next year.

His key priorities include transferring more powers to regional authorities, supporting businesses, increasing the construction of social and municipal housing, and tackling homelessness. He also pledged to maintain the United Kingdom’s defence commitments.

After taking office, the new prime minister will begin forming his cabinet. His team has not yet revealed the full list of future appointments, but government changes are expected in the coming days.

Photo credit: The Guardian