Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade, Andy Burnham, was sworn into office in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace today and vowed to ‘rewire’ Britain’s political and economic system to concentrate on matters that ‘impact on our daily lives’ – from the cost of living crisis to the plight of public services and regional inequality.
Burnham, 56, who was previously the Mayor of Greater Manchester and affectionately referred to as the ‘King of the North,’ became prime minister when Keir Starmer resigned in person from his position to the King. At Buckingham Palace he was then asked by the monarch to form a new administration before he travelled to Downing Street to select his Cabinet.
Related News: ₦28bn Debt Forces Ibom Power Shutdown, Deepens Nigeria’s Electricity Supply Crisis
In his inaugural speech to the nation after taking over, Burnham acknowledged public anger towards politicians and pledged to restore trust in government by establishing a new political and economic system that will focus on ‘restoring household budgets’, ‘fixing our broken public services and devolving power from Westminster to the regions’.
The former Manchester Mayor said the government would announce a 10-year reform programme to reshape the country and introduce immediate steps to deal with the rising cost of living.
He also promised to increase social housing, address the crisis of people sleeping rough on streets and invest in a number of public services that have come under pressure in recent years. Burnham inherits a landscape scarred by low growth, pressure on the NHS, immigration pressures, poorly functioning utility firms, and the long process of restoring public trust after many years of political turbulence.
Related News: Ukraine’s Military Recruitment Drive Faces Mounting Resistance as Conscription Tensions Escalate
The composition of his cabinet – particularly the appointment of the new Chancellor of the Exchequer – is expected to provide the first indication of how the new administration intends to govern.
The appointment of Burnham is the seventh prime ministerial change since 2010, underscoring the speed of political change in Britain, which is now in the seventh prime ministerial term of this decade.
Related News: Senegal’s Faye Takes Helm of ECOWAS as West Africa Confronts Security and Unity Challenges
The UK operates on a parliamentary system where the government may change its leader, and hence its prime minister, without a general election. The next national election is not constitutionally due until 2029.
