Andy Burnham, 56, MP and former mayor of Manchester, has been proclaimed the new leader of the British Labour Party, replacing Keir Starmer, who resigned in June. The handover at Downing Street is scheduled for Monday, when Burnham will become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

The announcement was made during a special party assembly in London by Shabana Mahmood, Home Secretary in the outgoing government and chair of Labour's National Executive Committee. Mahmood specified that Burnham secured the support of 379 MPs and all Labour-affiliated trade unions. Only one other candidate received a single nomination, insufficient to enter the race, meaning that in the absence of competitors no membership vote was required. The regularity of the process was confirmed by Labour's general secretary, Hollie Ridley.

Before the announcement, deputy leader Lucy Powell introduced the assembly, thanking Starmer and expressing hope that the new leader would bring change, hope and representation to the party and the country.

In his first speech, Burnham declared himself ready to govern and committed to pursuing a policy of change following, in his words, forty years of neoliberal policies that have not been favourable to many social groups. He described the moment as the last opportunity for change. Burnham also stated he would not chase the themes put forward by Reform UK, the party led by Nigel Farage, and called for party unity against fractionalism, recalling that he had supported every Labour leader in his political career.

The new leader's programme includes reindustrialisation, change and delocalisation as central themes, as reported by the British press. Starmer, 63, leaves office having led the government since 2024.