LAST UPDATE | 17 Jul

ANDY BURNHAM HAS become the new leader of the UK Labour Party, only a month after winning a seat in the House of Commons during the Makerfield byelection.

The 56-year-old was declared the party leader at a special conference in London in what is the final step before becoming Britain’s seventh prime minister in 10 years on Monday.

The former Greater Manchester mayor has won the backing of major Labour figures, receiving 379 MP nominations and not facing a contest for the role. 

In his first speech as Labour leader, he said those who backed him “heard the call from the people of Makerfield on behalf of forgotten places everywhere up and down this country for a return of the Labour they once knew. And now we answer that call.”

It’s the honour of my life to be Leader of the Labour Party.

I will be a leader for every region and nation in this great country, and this Party will be unashamedly Labour in our priorities and in the decisions we take.

Together, we will set Britain on a new path. https://t.co/7SYlOp9qO6

— Andy Burnham (@andyburnham) July 17, 2026

Burnham said the party will “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.

“That’s what we’re going to do, everybody. We’re going to give them hope back.”

He said it was a proud moment for him and his family, but one that he is ready for.

I am ready. Ready to lead and to build on the foundation laid by one person more than any other.

Burnham said his cabinet would include all parts of Labour as he pledged to end factionalism within it and build a new politics.

“We might enjoy the point scoring against others. The public don’t. How can politicians point fingers when living standards are falling and politics as a whole isn’t working for them? It infuriates them and makes them switch off.

He added: “This is a last chance to change, and we must take it together, united together.”

On Monday, incumbent Keir Starmer will offer his resignation to King Charles. Charles will then ask Burnham to form a government – once the MP has accepted, he will be the UK’s prime minister.

Burnham thanked Starmer in his speech, saying that Labour went from its worst defeat to “one of the best victories in our history” under his leadership. 

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“Keir put Labour back in a position to change people’s lives, and that is what we have been doing these last two years.”

Burnham praised policies such as expansions of workers’ and renters’ rights, falling NHS waiting lists, rail renationalisation and the passing of the Hillsborough Law – “the biggest rebalancing of the scales of justice this country has ever seen”.

He added: “Today, we thank Keir for his service to our party and to our country.”

Burnham steps into the job at a time when his party has trailed Reform UK in opinion polls for nearly 18 months.

Labour hopes the change in leader will reignite the party’s public support. Starmer has said he believes Labour can win the next election under Burnham.

Burnham is expected to say he will be “unashamedly Labour” in a speech at the special conference conferring him the party’s leadership.