The big surprise on Andy Burnham’s first day as UK PM? Trump wants to help him
Updated July 21, 2026 — 9:25am,first published 7:49pm
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London: British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has vowed to “bring back hope” to the country after being elevated to the leadership in a meeting with King Charles, declaring that the public deserves better from a new generation of politicians.
Britain’s new leader embarked on a cabinet reshuffle within hours of his appointment, while also speaking with Donald Trump and emerging from the call with an offer of help from the US president after months of tension between the key allies.
Andy Burnham gives his first speech as prime minister outside 10 Downing Street.Getty Images
Burnham promised to deliver help with the cost of living within his first 24 hours in the job, as he arrived at his official residence at 10 Downing Street to deliver his first remarks as prime minister in front of hundreds of reporters.
“We have not been good enough, and we need to be better. We will be,” he said.
The formal transfer of power concluded after the previous prime minister, Keir Starmer, visited King Charles at Buckingham Palace for a private meeting in which he officially resigned.
That meeting cleared the way for Burnham to visit the King soon afterwards and be invited to form government, elevating him to the top post.
King Charles welcomes Burnham to Buckingham Palace, where he was invited to form government.Getty Images
In a brief statement, the King confirmed that Burnham accepted the invitation and “kissed hands upon his appointment” – the traditional language used to describe a prime minister accepting the monarch’s invitation to lead government.
Trump revealed the two leaders had a “good” conversation on topics including the “outstanding” relationship between the US and UK – a message that contrasted with his harsh criticism of Starmer for not supporting the war against Iran.
“The Prime Minister has got a big job ahead of him, but he will be able to do it and, of course, the U.S.A. will be there to help!” Trump posted.
“We discussed North Sea Oil, Trade, the Military Alliance, Demining of the Hormuz Strait, and many other topics. The call was interesting, and went very well. I wished Prime Minister Burnham, GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED!”
Charles and Burnham.Getty Images
Trump also said he and Burnham would meet in the “not too distant future”, but did not say more. One possible meeting point is the G20 leaders’ summit due to be held in Miami in December.
Speaking outside Downing Street after the palace meeting, without notes or a lectern, Burnham said he was “acutely” conscious he was the seventh prime minister since 2016.
“It requires my generation of politicians to raise our game and rise to the new challenge,” he said.
“Britain needs to show the world that we can regain our stability once again, and that is our challenge: to make politics work, to make it work better.”
Burnham and his wife, Marie-France van Heel, wave as they enter 10 Downing Street.AP Photo/Thomas Krych
The couple is greeted inside the official residence by top political staff and other advisers.Getty Images
Burnham spoke directly to the main television camera to give a personal assurance to the British people that he would do better than previous prime ministers.
“I know people at home are fed up with politics. I hear you,” he said, promising to deliver a “circuit breaker” for a system he said had taken wrong turns since the 1980s.
Burnham vowed to decentralise power from London, reindustrialise the economy, end rough sleeping, ensure stronger public control of key industries, build more homes and improve mental health support.
He said he would outline help with the cost of living, in a funded government policy, within his first 24 hours.
“It’s about putting the right values and the right standards at the heart of government,” he said.
“I will put the care of people at the heart of everything I do. 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. Let us make this the moment when Britain starts to believe again – the moment we bring back hope.”
Burnham said his generation of politicians needed to “raise our game”.Bloomberg
Upon those words, he entered 10 Downing Street with his wife, Marie-France van Heel, to be greeted by top political staff and other advisers.
Earlier, Starmer had left the official residence to give his final address as prime minister in front of dozens of ministerial colleagues, staff and family members including his wife, Victoria.
“My work is done. In 6½ years, I took our party from a historic defeat in 2019, changed it so it was fit to face the country, and won a landslide general election victory in 2024,” he said.
“Since then, it has been the privilege of my life to serve you and this great country as prime minister, and I am confident that Britain is now stronger and fairer than it was two years ago.”
Keir Starmer receives applause as he leaves No. 10 Downing Street.AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth
Starmer and his wife, Victoria, depart Downing Street.Getty Images
Starmer said Burnham had his “full support”.
“As I now pass the baton to Andy Burnham, I wish him every success,” he said.
“I go with good grace, I go with a smile, and I go proud of everything that we have achieved.”
King Charles welcomes Starmer to Buckingham Palace, where he officially resigned as PM.Getty Images
Sir Clive Alderton, left, principal private secretary to the King and Queen, and King Charles III’s Equerry, Major Ben Rigby, right, greet Burnham and his wife Marie-France van Heel at Buckingham Palace.Aaron Chown/Pool PA via AP
The meetings at Buckingham Palace formally concluded a long fight within the Labour Party to replace Starmer after growing discontent over his leadership, and a year of planning by Burnham and his allies to take power within the party.
In being named to the top post on Monday, Burnham became the nation’s seventh prime minister since 2016.
In a surprise move that appeared to be aimed at calming financial markets, Burnham named former defence secretary John Healey as the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Healey quit the previous government a few weeks ago over funding plans for his department.
Ed Miliband was promoted from energy secretary to foreign secretary. He replaces Yvette Cooper, who was appointed health secretary. Shabana Mahmood remains home secretary. Wes Streeting becomes defence secretary.
Burnham also restored former Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner to cabinet as housing minister, after she stepped down last year.
Labour has 403 seats in the House of Commons, giving it a comfortable majority. The Conservative Party has 117 seats, the Liberal Democrats have 71, Reform UK has seven and the Greens have five. Small parties and independents make up the rest.
But the divisions within the Labour parliamentary party have weakened the government, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has made big gains in local government elections and has soared in the public opinion polls as a potential prime minister.
Burnham’s rise began in earnest on May 19 when he overcame resistance from Starmer’s allies and gained party approval to run as the Labour candidate at a byelection for the seat of Makerfield, which he won on June 19.
Starmer announced on June 22 that he would resign. With Labour MPs making it clear they wanted a new leader, Starmer set up an internal party timeline to decide his replacement. When party officials called for nominations, Burnham was the sole candidate – an extraordinary development given he had become a member of the House of Commons only days earlier.
While Burnham is the seventh prime minister in roughly a decade, he is also being described as the sixth prime minister in 10 years.
Former Conservative prime minister David Cameron stepped down on July 13, 2016 – 10 years and one week ago. He was followed by Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak from the Conservative Party. They were followed by Starmer and Burnham.
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David Crowe is Europe correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via X or email.