Andy Burnham made a speech at Downing Street moments after being confirmed as the UK's new prime minister, speaking about support for Ukraine, ending rough sleeping and stabilising the economy.
New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham used his first speech outside Downing Street to promise political stability after years of upheaval, while vowing to maintain support for Ukraine and tackle the cost-of-living crisis that has squeezed households across the country.
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Burnham, who became Britain's seventh prime minister in a decade after replacing Keir Starmer, said his government would work to restore confidence in politics by delivering "hope" and "national renewal".
He pledged to introduce a 10-year plan to rebuild the country, arguing that Britain needed a "circuit-breaker" from decades of economic and political decline.
"Britain needs to show the world that we can regain our stability once again," Burnham said just after being appointed by King Charles III to take over from Keir Starmer.
He pledged to "issue my first instruction to end rough sleeping in our country" once he starts work.
Unlike previous Labour leadership contests, Burnham entered Downing Street without having to defend his platform in televised debates or party hustings as he ran unopposed.
That fuelled criticism from opponents, who argued he had avoided detailed scrutiny of his domestic agenda and had not explained how he would fund many of his ambitions.
On his first day as prime minister, Burnham sought to address those concerns by announcing a £340 million (€400m euros) plan to end rough sleeping "at the earliest opportunity", backed by a cross-government strategy focused on prevention, emergency accommodation and long-term housing support.
100 percent backing for Ukraine
With regards to foreign policy, the new leader sought to assure allies that a change at Number 10 Downing Street will not signal a U-turn on Starmer's efforts. He focused on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and told reporters the UK's support for Kyiv would remain "steadfast" and "resolute".
"I'll be making very clear later today to President Zelensky that there is no change. I will be with him 100 percent," Burnham said, adding that he also expected to have an early call with US President Donald Trump.
French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Burnham, saying he hoped the change in leadership would help strengthen ties between the UK and the European Union.
"In the face of the challenges that unite us, I hope that we will deepen our relationship in the service of our peoples and give new momentum to the partnership between the United Kingdom and the European Union," Macron wrote on X.
The message comes after UK-EU negotiations on closer cooperation were paused and a summit cancelled following the resignation of Burnham's predecessor, with officials expected to resume talks once the new government is established.
Starmer leaves with 'good grace'
Starmer departed Downing Street on Monday morning, insisting in a farewell speech that his two years in office had made the UK a "better place".
Despite a catalogue of policy reversals, ministerial resignations, a failure to assuage the public's concern over illegal immigrants and the scandal surrounding the UK ambassador Peter Mandelson's links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that led to his ultimate downfall, Starmer said "I go with good grace, I go with a smile, and I go proud of everything that we have achieved."
The monarch met Starmer to accept his resignation and Burnham arrived next for the formal procedure in which the king asked him to form the next government and he accepted.
The 56-year-old former mayor of Manchester is the sixth prime minister to enter Downing Street in the last 10 years.
He is expected to begin naming his cabinet members in the coming hours and days, with the biggest unanswered question surrounding the role of chancellor. Rachel Reeves is the incumbent, but many predict the loyal Starmer supporter will be one of the first to be replaced.