Politics · 20 July 2026

Andy Burnham becomes fifth prime minister in four years today

The former Greater Manchester mayor replaces Keir Starmer, who was pushed out by his own MPs two years after winning a landslide. Burnham gives his first speech outside Number 10 on Monday, once King Charles asks him to form a government, and is expected to call for "unity and stability". He is the UK's seventh prime minister in about a decade, having only returned to Parliament last month.

By BriefTea Editorial · 20 July 2026 at 6:20

Reported by BBC · How we write briefs

Get the app

More briefs

PoliticsTreasury officials advise John Healey to tax banks and oil companies more PoliticsBurnham to end indefinite jail terms by parliament's end PoliticsJames Cleverly steps down from the shadow cabinet to campaign for London mayor WorldIcelanders vote on restarting EU membership talks after 13 years PoliticsBurnham returns to parliament with budget, welfare, and cost of living challenges WorldFour EU countries advocate using Russia's frozen 210 billion euros for Ukraine More politics stories → Browse all stories →