LONDON (AP) — Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester who now leads the Labour Party, is completing the final steps Monday to become Britain’s seventh prime minister in a single decade, taking over from Keir Starmer.
Burnham made his return to Parliament in June after winning a high-stakes special election, and he was officially sworn in as a member on July 12 — just hours after the widely unpopular Starmer announced he was stepping down following only two years as prime minister.
As part of the transition, Starmer will travel the roughly one mile from Downing Street to Buckingham Palace to formally inform King Charles III of his resignation.
Shortly after, the 56-year-old Burnham will make the same journey to the palace, where King Charles will ask him to form a government. That moment — traditionally referred to as “kissing hands” — is when Burnham will officially assume the role of prime minister.
Starmer came to power just two years ago when he led Labour to a sweeping election victory. However, his time in office quickly soured. A string of policy reversals and political missteps caused public support to collapse, and after devastating local election results in May, the Labour Party pushed him out.
Britain’s system of parliamentary democracy allows the party in power to swap out its leader mid-term, with the new leader automatically becoming prime minister — no general election required.
The next scheduled national election is not required until 2029, five years after the last one held in 2024, though Burnham has the option to call one earlier if he chooses.
Before the day wraps up, Burnham will likely come face to face with one of Downing Street’s most enduring residents — Larry the cat. The gray and white tabby has called the prime minister’s official home since 2011 and has outlasted six of Burnham’s predecessors.
Originally a stray taken in to deal with a rodent problem, Larry now holds court on Downing Street, frequently making appearances just as foreign dignitaries arrive. He was already spotted Monday morning, drawing attention in front of the iconic black door of No. 10.
Photographer Justin Ng, who has chronicled Larry more than almost anyone, put it simply: “Larry is the most stable thing in British politics.”
Ng added: “(He’s) like the night watchman of Downing Street. He’s looking out, looking out for people. People are reassured (by) his presence that things will carry on.”
Larry now has an official profile on the government’s website and boasts more than 900,000 followers on X. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte recently stopped by to greet him, and leaders across the board have been eager to be photographed at his side.
There is one potential wrinkle, however — Burnham also has a dog named Axel, who will now need to make peace with the famous feline.
The day’s events at Downing Street will begin with Starmer delivering a brief farewell address before heading to Buckingham Palace to submit his resignation to the king. Burnham will then be summoned to the palace, and upon his return, he will speak to the nation for the first time as prime minister, standing before the famous black door of 10 Downing Street.
Labour is hoping Burnham’s arrival marks the end of a turbulent era of rapid leadership changes. He will be the seventh prime minister the United Kingdom has had since 2016.
