Key facts
- Andy Burnham has become Britain's 59th Prime Minister.
- Burnham's ascension follows the resignation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
- Burnham previously served as Mayor of Greater Manchester.
- Burnham returned to Parliament by winning a special election.
- Sadiq Khan was made a peer in the House of Lords by Keir Starmer.
Andy Burnham has unexpectedly become Britain's 59th Prime Minister, succeeding Keir Starmer who resigned after two years in office. Burnham, 56, secured a parliamentary seat through a special election just a month prior to his elevation.
Burnham's political journey includes a decade as Mayor of Greater Manchester, where he developed a reputation for pragmatism and a "Manchesterism" approach to governance, focusing on investment in transport, housing, and infrastructure. He previously served in the Labour government under Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, holding positions such as chief secretary to the Treasury, culture secretary, and health secretary.
Born in Liverpool and educated at Cambridge, Burnham's values were shaped by his Catholic upbringing and Labour Party principles. He has been a champion for social justice, notably advocating for the Hillsborough disaster victims' families. His political ambition and regional focus earned him the nickname "King of the North."
In a separate development, Sadiq Khan has been appointed a peer in the House of Lords by Keir Starmer, despite previously stating he did not wish to serve as a minister.