Andy Burnham has been confirmed as leader of Britain’s governing Labour Party, paving the way for him to become the country’s next prime minister.
Burnham was officially endorsed at a special Labour Party conference on Friday, the final step before replacing Keir Starmer as British prime minister on Monday.
In his acceptance speech, Burnham pledged to restore hope to people in “forgotten places” across the UK, promising to use Labour’s unity to deliver meaningful change for communities that have long felt neglected.
“We are united, and we put the power that comes from that unity at the service of people and places who have been waiting too long for politics to let them hope again,” he said. “We’re going to give them hope back.”
Nicknamed the “King of the North,” Burnham also paid tribute to Starmer, whose departure follows weeks of political pressure and declining public support. He is expected to unveil his cabinet and outline his government’s priorities after taking office on Monday.
In a post on X, Burnham described becoming Labour leader as “the honour of my life,” vowing to lead every region and nation of the UK while ensuring Labour’s values remain central to his administration.
“Together, we will set Britain on a new path,” he wrote.
Since returning to Parliament last month after winning the Makerfield seat, Burnham has outlined plans to oversee what he called the “biggest rebalancing of power” from London to Britain’s regions, with the aim of reducing inequality and addressing the concerns of communities that have increasingly turned to Reform.
