CANADA VIBES NEWSROOM · ÉDITION DU SOIR | EVENING EDITION
July 20, 2026 · 9:30 PM ET

Andy Burnham became the UK’s seventh prime minister in a decade Monday, after Keir Starmer’s resignation and an audience with King Charles III.

Andy Burnham became the United Kingdom’s new prime minister Monday after an audience with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, succeeding Keir Starmer, who resigned as both Labour Party leader and prime minister.

The MP for Makerfield becomes the UK’s seventh prime minister in a decade, a turnover reflecting the political and economic turbulence the country has faced since the 2016 Brexit referendum.

A former cabinet minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, Burnham addressed the press outside 10 Downing Street, saying Britain must “regain our stability.” He described his appointment as a “circuit-breaker” for the country, pledging a new political and economic model and a 10-year plan.

Analysts expect Burnham to take a tougher stance on Israel than his predecessor, according to several assessments published Monday.

U.S. President Donald Trump separately labeled the UK a “poverty stricken disaster,” remarks that landed just as the handover of power took place in London.

What to watch

The makeup of Burnham’s new cabinet and the early foreign-policy and economic signals from his government.

Sources

• NPR
• CNN
• Al Jazeera
• CNBC