Andy Burnham confirmed as Labour leader; to be prime minister Monday
July 17 (UPI) --Andy Burnham has pledged to run a Labour government without infighting and factional politics as he prepares to become prime minister of Britain on Monday.
Burnham is now the leader of the Labour Party in the British Parliament. He made a speech Friday in central London in which he said he'd put an end to party squabbles, create a "new type of politics," work with other parties, be a leader for "everywhere" in the kingdom and shift power from Parliament.
He also said he plans to undo the "Thatcherism" of the 1980s, create more public ownership of utilities, build more public housing and find the money to fix social programs in Britain.
He also promised to be "pro-business" like he was when he was mayor of Greater Manchester. He said he would lead a "distinctively Labour" government, not copying the Tories, Greens or Reform UK.
"Factionalism has bedevilled us," Burnham said. "Today we moved beyond it."
He said he is not releasing his cabinet picks until after Monday when Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to hand over the reins. But most believe he'll choose Shabana Mahmood, the current home secretary, to be the chancellor of the exchequer. Some fear she leans too far to the right, having enacted a hardline immigration stance under Starmer.
The left wing of the party wanted Ed Miliband, who considers himself a socialist, in the position. But some business leaders felt his appointment could spook the markets.
On Monday, Starmer will meet with King Charles at Buckingham Palace to formally resign, then Burnham will meet soon after with the king, who will then ask him to form a government. When Burnham accepts, he becomes prime minister. Then, he will head to 10 Downing St., where he will likely give a speech before going into his new home.
Starmer has said he will stay the MP for Holborn and St. Pancras until at least the next election.
Reform UK's far-right leader Nigel Farage spoke at the UK Conservative Political Action Conference Friday after Burnham's speech, calling it "utterly vacuous."
Farage called Burnham "the great chameleon of British politicians," the BBC reported.
He said Burnham has no mandate and said the British public, "has had enough of this game of musical chairs. There must be an immediate general election so the country can decide its future."
Burnham, in his speech, said that this was Labour's last chance to get things right and that unity would help them "beat Britain's new right."
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This story was originally published July 17, 2026 at 3:47 PM.