Burnham sworn in as UK prime minister

LONDON – Andy Burnham has officially been sworn in as the United Kingdom's new prime minister after King Charles invited him to form a government. Keir Starmer stepped down after just over two years in office, wishing Burnham success as he takes over.

The 56-year-old former mayor of Manchester pledged to put people and public care at the heart of his government while restoring hope and confidence across the country. Known for his informal style and strong communication skills, Burnham becomes the first prime minister from northern England since the 1950s.

As mayor, Burnham helped transform Manchester through investments in public transport, infrastructure and housing. He now aims to expand that model nationwide by giving more powers to local governments, increasing housing construction, strengthening public services and investing more in social care.

Critics, however, question how his ambitious agenda will be funded and point to his limited foreign policy experience. His new government will also face strong political pressure from Nigel Farage's Reform Party, which continues to lead in opinion polls.