Keir Starmer has formally resigned as prime minister, Buckingham Palace has said.
He will be replaced by Andy Burnham who will enter office preaching a message of “unity and stability”.
Key reads
Sarah Burns – 3 minutes ago
Andy Burnham becomes prime minister
Andy Burnham is now officially prime minister, Buckingham Palace has said.
British King Charles III invited him to form a government and Burnham accepted the invitation.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “His Majesty received in audience the Rt Hon Andrew Burnham MP and requested him to form a new administration.
“The Rt Hon Andrew Burnham MP accepted The King’s offer and kissed hands upon his appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury.
“Ms Marie-France van Heel was also received by His Majesty.”
British King Charles III welcomes Andy Burnham, during an audience at Buckingham Palace, London, where he invited the leader of the Labour Party to become prime minister and form a new government. Picture date: Monday July 20, 2026. PA Photo. Photograph: Aaron Chown/PA Wire
British King Charles III shakes hands with incoming prime minister Andy Burnham, during an audience at Buckingham Palace, London. Photograph: Aaron Chown/AFP via Getty Images
Sarah Burns – 22 minutes ago
Labour leader Andy Burnham has now arrived at Buckingham Palace. British King Charles III will now invite him to form a new government.
King Charles III’s Equerry, Major Ben Rigby (left) greets Labour Party leader Andy Burnham as he arrives at Buckingham Palace, London. Photograph: Aaron Chown/PA Wire
Sarah Burns – 25 minutes ago
Starmer formally resigns as prime minister
Keir Starmer has formally resigned as prime minister, Buckingham Palace has said.
It said in a statement: “Sir Keir Starmer MP had an audience of The King this morning and tendered his resignation as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury which His Majesty was graciously pleased to accept.
“Lady Starmer was also received by The King.”
The UK is now currently without a prime minister, until British King Charles III invites Andy Burnham to form a government.
British King Charles III welcomes outgoing prime minister Keir Starmer, during an audience at Buckingham Palace, London. Photograph: Aaron Chown/ Getty Images
Sarah Burns – 31 minutes ago
New PM appointment offers opportunity to begin new chapter in Irish-British realations, says Sinn Féin leader
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said Andy Burnham’s time in office will be important as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and advancing towards referendums on Irish unity.
“I hope his government approaches this work with the courage and imagination shown by previous Labour governments during the peace process,” she said.
McDonald said when Labour assumed office after the last general election, she stated her party’s intention to work “constructively” with the incoming British government to address the “considerable challenges and opportunities before us”.
“That remains our position,” she said in a statement on Monday. “The appointment of Andy Burnham as Labour leader and British prime minister offers an opportunity to begin a new chapter in relations between Britain and Ireland. I hope his government approaches that task with the courage and imagination shown by previous Labour governments during the peace process.
“As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, peace is secure. The future political direction of Ireland, and our relationship with Britain, must continue to be shaped by the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. That work remains unfinished.”
McDonald added that outstanding commitments must now be “honoured in full”, including provision for a referendum on Irish reunification in accordance with the Agreement.
“The conversation on Irish unity has moved decisively into the political mainstream. It is taking place in the Dáil, across civic society, universities, businesses, trade unions and communities throughout the island,” she said.
“The direction of travel is clear. Ireland is moving towards a referendum on unity. The outcome will belong to the people alone, but governments cannot postpone preparation until a referendum has been called. Preparation must begin now.”
Sinn Fein pPresident Mary Lou McDonald speaking during a press conference at Stormont, Belfast last month. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Sarah Burns – 59 minutes ago
‘I go with good grace and a smile’, says Starmer
The outgoing prime minister Keir Starmer also said that in a “world now where our enemies will stop at nothing to divide us”, in part because of “our unflinching resolve towards the brave people of Ukraine”, it is vital the country unites together.
He wished his successor, Andy Burnham, “every success”, and thanked both Downing Street staff and his wife Victoria.
“I go with good grace, I go with a smile and I go proud of everything that we have achieved. Thank you very much,” he said.
Starmer has now arrived at Buckingham Palace, where he will offer the UK King Charles III his formal resignation as prime minister.
Britain’s outgoing prime minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria leave 10 Downing Street, ahead of making a speech in central London. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images ‘Britain is now stronger and fairer than it was two years ago’ – Keir Starmer
Outgoing British prime minister Keir Starmer said that in his six and a half years as Labour leader he took the 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″.
“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,” he said.
Starmer said his government had lifted children out of poverty, reduced immigration, put defence on a stronger footing, and enhanced the UK’s international reputation.
He said the “most humbling aspect of this job is the front row seat you get to witness the greatest things of this country in action”.
“Whether that’s in their regimental colours, NHS scrubs or simply the millions of people in their communities who volunteer their time and their effort to the ground beneath their feet,” he said.
Keir Starmer delivers a farewell speech after standing down as prime minister in Downing Street. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images 
Keir Starmer delivers a farewell speech after standing down as prime minister. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images 
Outgoing UK prime minister Keir Starmer issues a statement outside 10 Downing Street Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA Wire
Outgoing UK prime minister Keir Starmer has begun his farewell speech outside 10 Downing Street saying “my work is done” and that it has been the privilege of his life.
Outgoing prime minister Keir Starmer issues a statement outside 10 Downing Street ahead of the arrival of new prime minister Andy Burnham. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire ‘Podium guy’ has outlasted five prime ministers
Mark Paul, our London correspondent, in Downing Street, writes:
In the first indication that a speech from Starmer may be relatively soon, we have just spotted the Downing Street sound engineer known, admiringly and a touch facetiously, by social media and many of the women in the Westminster press pack as “hot podium guy”.
He is the man who has dragged out the lectern for the litany of prime ministerial addresses and resignations in recent years – a busy man. His sculpted physique suggests he probably knows his way around a gym, hence his legion of followers in Westminster.
The media has identified him as Tobias Gough, a sound engineer with MGi London, who first caught the public’s attention in 2019, while setting up the lectern when Theresa May, the then prime minister, stepped down. Shortly afterwards, he became a social media sensation. Some joked that they trusted him to broker Brexit over any elected leaders.
He will have his work cut out: once Starmer finishes, he will need to quickly drag the lectern back inside, as Burnham is expected to prefer a more informal style for his first speech as prime minister.
Sound engineer Tobias Gough in 2016. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images Burnham’s father unaware of son’s new role because of Alzheimer’s
Andy Burnham’s father does not know he will be the next prime minister because of his Alzheimer’s, the Labour leader has said.
The incoming UK prime minister has vowed to “grasp the nettle” of reforming the adult social care system, drawing on his father Roy’s experience.
He told The Times that his father was unaware that he is on the brink of power in Britain.
“That’s a sadness because he would be (proud),” Burnham said.
“The way I look at it, it’s his achievement as well. A whole family achievement although he doesn’t know it.”
His father was also unaware Burnham had swung behind one of his political passions, a change in the voting system to proportional representation.
He said: “I don’t think he’s ever realised, because of his condition, that I’ve come round to PR, which is one of his missions – to get me to accept that.”
Burnham said his family, including his youngest daughter, visited his father last Sunday.
“We were at his care home. My two brothers were there, my mum was there. So, all five of us together, which was a nice thing.”
Incoming British prime minister Andy Burnham gives a speech on Gravesend Town Pier, as he makes his first official visit as Labour leader last week. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Sarah Burns – 2 hours ago
Members of the public outside Downing Street, London. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire 
Satirical artist Kaya Mar displays a painting of Andy Burnham on Whitehall in London. Photograph: Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images 
A demonstrator from pressure group ‘Clean up Westminster’ is dressed as Andy Burnham on Whitehall. Photograph: Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images 
A demonstrator holds a sign on Whitehall as Andy Burnham is to become UK prime minister. Photograph: Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images 
Members of the media gather outside the prime minister’s residence in Downing Street prior to the departure of Britain’s outgoing prime minister Keir Starmer and arrival of new prime minister Andy Burnham, in central London. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images
Sarah Burns – 2 hours ago
Andy Burnham woke up this morning in Admiralty House, a UK government building in Whitehall that contains a number of ministerial flats, writes London correspondent Mark Paul.
Tonight, he will go to sleep a few hundred yards away in Downing Street as the UK’s new prime minister.
He is expected to formally assume office at around noon, and will give his inaugural address outside the black door of Number 10 shortly before 1pm.
In a break with Downing Street tradition, it is rumoured he will not stand behind a lectern.
In the hour or so preceding Burnham’s formal appointment by the British King Charles, the outgoing PM, Keir Starmer, will head to Buckingham Palace to tender his resignation and request that Burnham be allowed to replace him.
Starmer will also give his final address on Downing Street a few minutes before he heads to the palace. That is expected to happen shortly before 11am.
This morning, security at the gates of Downing Street, one of the one of the most famous streets in global politics, is far tighter than usual.
It is believed that protestors will be kept back from the gates and amplifiers will be banned, which means anti Brexit campaigner Steve Bray, whose loud musical interludes have provided the backdrop to many big UK political moments, may be stymied.
Broadcasters from Britain and across the world have been marking out their positions on the street all weekend, following a ballot. Platforms have been erected for broadcasters to occupy and a forest of step ladders are propped up against the walls to give photographers the best angles to capture the transition.
The Irish Times has elbowed its way in to occupy a position opposite Number 11 Downing Street, the base of the chancellor of the exchequer. Who will occupy that role under Burnham is the biggest decision he will make today and, perhaps, ever.
Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary under Starmer, is favourite to take over as Burnham’s chancellor. That may disappoint the restive left wing of the Labour Party but Burnham will never again be as powerful as he is today, and for now, at least, what he says goes for the UK’s current party of government.
As well as appointing his cabinet, Burnham is also expected to announce the abolition of the UK’s digital ID scheme.
Members of the media gather at Downing Street in London. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA 
Remote cameras are placed at Downing Street, as members of the media gather in London. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA 
Remote cameras are placed at Downing Street, as members of the media gather in London. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA
Sarah Burns – 2 hours ago
It’s the biggest job in British politics, and Andy Burnham has had relatively little time to prepare. Once installed in Downing Street as prime minister on Monday, Burnham will need to make dozens of decisions each day, resolve disputes among ministers and act as the political figurehead of the government.
He faces a long and daunting list of issues, some of which you can read more about here.
Sarah Burns – 3 hours ago
Make-up of new cabinet expected to be revealed soon after inauguration speech
Soon after his speech, Andy Burnham is expected to reveal the make-up of his new cabinet, the formation of which has been veiled in secrecy since his ascension to the top job became inevitable a couple of weeks ago.
There has been acute speculation over who might be chancellor of the exchequer, a role coveted by left-leaning former Labour leader Ed Miliband.
His allies fear, however, that he is danger of losing out on that role to the current home secretary, Shabana Mahmood. Pat McFadden is seen as a contender for Northern Ireland secretary.
Former UK Labour leader Ed Milliband. Photograph: Andrew Winning/Reuters
Sarah Burns – 3 hours ago
Burnham’s inaugural speech due to focus on need for ‘honesty and reflection’
In his first speech as prime minister, Burnham will promise to strive to ensure his country is once again recognised internationally for effective government, after a decade-long carousel of psychodrama.
It is expected that Burnham will seek to focus in his speech not on triumphalism, after his allies in Westminster effectively sacked Starmer two years after winning an election landslide. Instead, he will talk of the need for “honesty and reflection”.
He will also argue that it is time to give Britons “more breathing space” with a focus on policies that improve their everyday lives.
Burnham’s inaugural speech as UK prime minister comes three days after his first address as Labour leader on Friday, when he was officially confirmed in that role. On Friday, he focused on calling for an end to division and “factionalism” in his party. Monday’s Downing Street speech, however, will focus more on the British nation.
Andy Burnham gives a speech on Gravesend Town Pier, as he makes his first official visit as Labour leader last week. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Sarah Burns – 3 hours ago
Andy Burnham will enter office as Britain’s new prime minister on Monday morning preaching a message of “unity and stability”, just hours after removal vans depart Downing Street with the belongings of Keir Starmer, the outgoing premier whom he ousted.
Sixteen years after first seeking the Labour party leadership, Burnham now becomes leader of his country, which is still bruised by a decade of rows over Brexit and roiled by political and economic pressures that have, at times, threatened to cleave it apart.
Burnham, who until last month was the mayor of Greater Manchester, will give his first speech outside the famous black door of Number 10 soon after Starmer departs, and Britain’s King Charles gives him permission to form a UK government.
He will acknowledge that he is “acutely conscious” of being the sixth new prime minister to walk up Downing Street since the Brexit vote of 2016. Burnham is expected to argue that this “unprecedented turnover” in national leadership underlines the need for more “stable and responsible politics” in Britain.
Follow irishtimes.com for updates throughout the day.
The entrance to 10 Downing Street in London. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA