By lunchtime today, the United Kingdom will have its fifth prime minister in four years. This rapid turnover of leadership serves as a stark, pithy summary of the current state of British politics. Since the summer of 2022, when Boris Johnson was on his way out of office, the country has seen Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and Sir Keir Starmer hold the position. Andy Burnham, who is set to take office later today, is reportedly "acutely conscious" of this churn at the top. His critics, both within the Labour Party and beyond, may allow themselves a wry smile at that admission, given their view that he has been agitating for this specific moment for a long time.
The backdrop to Burnham's arrival at 10 Downing Street is defined by the post-pandemic, post-Brexit 2020s, a period where many have felt life is becoming increasingly difficult. This has led to a national mood of impatience and a fragmentation of political support. Consequently, those in government have faced significant unpopularity in recent years. This is the environment Burnham enters, much like Sir Keir Starmer did 746 days ago on a sunny July day. The new prime minister is determined to buck this trend of unpopular governments. He intends to hit the ground running and maintain the leadership style he adopted as the mayor of Greater Manchester.
While the rules of the House of Commons and necessary meetings with the King will likely require him to wear a suit more frequently than he has in recent years, other conventions may be intentionally abandoned. Reports indicate he may not use a lectern for his first speech as prime minister outside 10 Downing Street on Monday. Furthermore, he is reportedly keen on hosting "People's Question Time" sessions, allowing for direct question and answer interactions with voters across the country.
Before Burnham's official transition, Sir Keir Starmer will conclude his time in office. After spending his final weekend at Chequers, the prime minister's country retreat in Buckinghamshire, Sir Keir will deliver a brief address—utilizing a lectern—before heading to see the King to formally stand down. His team has expressed particular pride in his achievements, including reducing immigration and NHS waiting lists in England, lifting children out of poverty, and introducing a social media ban for teenage children. A modest gathering of staff and supporters is expected to see him off, with some overlap anticipated between the supporters of the outgoing and incoming prime ministers.
The afternoon and evening will bring news of appointments to the cabinet, including, as reported, a cabinet minister whose specific focus will be on artificial intelligence. Significant attention will be paid to who secures the major roles, such as chancellor, home secretary, and foreign secretary. Observers are watching to see which roles are assigned to figures like Shabana Mahmood, Wes Streeting, Ed Miliband, Angela Rayner, and Lucy Powell, as these choices will signal how Burnham intends to govern. The coming hours will also clarify the new prime minister's immediate priorities, including the cost of living and energy bills, and how his government will function, specifically regarding the extent to which the No 10 operation will be bolstered and the level of influence held by No 10 North, Burnham's office in Manchester. While this turnover of prime ministers is no longer a novel event, it remains highly significant for the country's governance in the coming weeks, months, and years.
