London | Voice of People, 20 July:

Andy Burnham has officially become the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after receiving the King’s invitation to form a government.

At Buckingham Palace, King Charles III formally appointed Mr Burnham as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury. The new Prime Minister accepted the King’s offer and completed the traditional “kissing hands” ceremony, a constitutional term that no longer involves any literal kissing. His wife, Marie-France van Heel, was also received by His Majesty.

Addressing the nation outside 10 Downing Street after his appointment, Mr Burnham acknowledged the political instability Britain has experienced in recent years. He said he was “acutely conscious” that he was the sixth person in the last decade to be asked to form a government, describing it as a moment for reflection and a fresh commitment to rebuild trust in politics.

“People at home are fed up with politics,” Mr Burnham said. “I hear you, and I want to be honest with you – we have not been good enough and we need to be better.”

A “circuit breaker” for Britain

The new Prime Minister promised that his government would act as a “circuit breaker” for the country, delivering what he described as the biggest political and economic changes in four decades.

Mr Burnham said his administration would create a new political model based on cooperation and problem-solving rather than political confrontation. He pledged to move power away from Westminster and give communities across Britain more control over decisions affecting their lives.

He also promised reforms aimed at making essential services more affordable and placing key areas of public life under stronger public control.

First instruction: End rough sleeping

In his first major announcement as Prime Minister, Mr Burnham said his first instruction after entering Downing Street would be to launch a drive to end rough sleeping across the country.

He said putting “the right values and standards at the heart of government” would be central to his leadership.

“We will help people to live well, building a more preventative state and investing in people’s success rather than paying for failure,” he said.

Cost-of-living measures coming tomorrow

Mr Burnham announced that his government would unveil its first cost-of-living measures tomorrow, aimed at providing immediate support to households struggling with rising expenses.

He said the measures would include details on how they would be funded.

“Later this year I will bring forward a new plan for Britain, a 10-year plan laying out a path from where we are now to where I believe we all want Britain to be,” he said.

Jobs, education and housing at the centre of plans

The new Prime Minister said his government would focus on helping more young people into work by reforming education, expanding mental health support and building more council homes.

He argued that these long-term investments would help reduce dependence on welfare while maintaining the country’s financial commitments, including defence obligations to international partners.

A message of hope and unity

Ending his first speech as Prime Minister, Mr Burnham called for a new sense of national unity and optimism.

“I will put the care of people at the heart of everything I do,” he said.

“I will give this my all, and I ask you all to pull with me. Let’s build a new national sense of unity, of common purpose and positivity.”

He added: “Let us make this the moment when Britain starts to believe again, the moment we bring back hope.”

With Mr Burnham’s arrival at Downing Street, Britain begins a new political chapter after the short-lived premiership of Sir Keir Starmer, whose government ended after just over two years in office.