Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester in northwest England, is poised to replace outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer at No. 10 Downing St. after Mr. Starmer’s not-unexpected resignation Monday.
Widely known in Britain as the “King of the North” in a nod to the TV fantasy drama “Game of Thrones,” Mr. Burnham was sworn in as a member of Parliament representing the Manchester area just hours after Mr. Starmer announced his resignation amid dwindling poll ratings and growing public frustration over his government’s economic and immigration policies.
Mr. Burnham quickly announced his intention to seek the leadership of the Labor Party, possibly to forestall challenges from potential rivals such as David Lammy, the current deputy prime minister, and John Healey, the former defense secretary who recently resigned over disagreements with the Starmer administration over military spending.
Mr. Starmer’s position as Labor Party leader and head of the government was battered by his appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States despite Mr. Mandelson’s close ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mr. Starmer said he would remain as prime minister until a new party leader is selected. The process is likely to conclude before lawmakers return Sept. 1 from Parliament’s summer recess.
“Every decision I’ve taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labor Party,” Mr. Starmer said while standing in front of the prime minister’s London residence. “The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next election. I have heard the answer … and I accept that answer with good grace.”
Mr. Burnham, 56, acknowledged Mr. Starmer’s “leadership and dedication” during the slightly less than two years he spent as prime minister.
“It is important that this process is conducted in an orderly and responsible way. I will put myself forward as part of this process,” Mr. Burnham said on X. “The country expects stability, seriousness, and a continued focus on the issues that matter most, and that is what it will get.”
On Sunday, President Trump said Mr. Starmer would resign over his government’s immigration and energy policies, but most of the comments on the resignation Monday came from European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“It can take many leaders years to grow into the statesman you became in just two years. European and Ukrainian security is stronger because of you,” Ms. von der Leyen said on X.
Mr. Zelenskyy thanked Mr. Starmer for his “comprehensive support” for Kyiv and decisions that strengthened European defense. Britain under Mr. Starmer has been a major financial and military backer of Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russian invaders.
“The United Kingdom has been, is, and will remain among the world’s leaders. Here in Ukraine, we deeply value Britain, and every meeting and every conversation we have had has always been filled with real substance,” Mr. Zelenskyy said on X. “Keir, you are always a welcome guest in Ukraine.”
Mr. Burnham said the British people want progress on “bread and butter” issues such as housing, the cost of living, public services and opportunities for the next generation.
“Political change should never distract from the responsibility to improve people’s lives,” he said. “The Labor movement has always been at its strongest when it looks forward with confidence and purpose.”
Britain’s populist Reform UK party finished second in the by-election Thursday that returned Mr. Burnham to Westminster. He won about 55% of the vote over Reform candidate Robert Kenyon, who received 35%.
Reform leader Nigel Farage said it was “ridiculous” to pretend that Mr. Burnham had any meaningful mandate to lead the country. Britain is about to have its sixth prime minister in seven years, which Mr. Farage said was more reminiscent of postwar Italy than Britain in 2026.
Mr. Starmer, 63, is the first Labor prime minister since Gordon Brown, who served from 2007 to 2010. David Cameron was prime minister from 2010 to 2016, followed by Theresa May, from 2016 to 2019, and Boris Johnson, from 2019 to 2022. Liz Truss was prime minister for 49 days in 2022 — the shortest tenure in British history. She was followed by Rishi Sunak, who was prime minister from 2022 to 2024 before his defeat by Mr. Starmer’s Labor Party.
Mr. Farage said the country deserves a nationwide general election rather than a mere party leadership selection meeting.
“Reform demands an election, and we are ready to deliver radical change,” Mr. Farage said on X. “If Labor thinks it can shove another professional politician into No. 10, it has another thing coming.”
Ten years ago, British voters narrowly chose to leave the European Union in a referendum that came to be known as Brexit, for British Exit. A decade later, the issue remains deeply divisive. Some analysts argue that leaving the European Union has produced a period of economic upheaval and political instability that continues to roil Britain. Although Brexit ended the automatic free movement of people from Europe, it also led to a surge in both legal and illegal immigration from non-EU countries. The rapid turnover of British prime ministers since then is also often blamed on Brexit. Some recent polls have shown that a majority of British voters now want to reestablish links to the European Union.
Nile Gardiner, who was an aide to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and is now with The Heritage Foundation, said Mr. Starmer held on for a few weeks, even after his position became untenable.
“Awful Keir Starmer is finally heading for the exit,” Mr. Gardiner said on X. “This Labor government is ’rotten to the core,’ and there should be an early general election. Andy Burnham will have zero legitimacy and credibility” as prime minister.
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