Andy Burnham was confirmed as leader of the United Kingdom's ruling Labour Party, positioning him to assume the office of prime minister after outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigns on July 20, The Guardian reported on July 17. Once sworn in, Burnham will deliver his first address outside Downing Street and name his Cabinet, which Burnham said will comprise figures from across the party, with early policies set to focus on the cost of living.

Starmer's departure followed months of decline in the polls amid a stagnant economy and successive scandals. Labour's national polling has halved since its July 2024 election victory, Reform UK is leading in the polls and over 100 lawmakers demanded Starmer's exit after a disastrous local election defeat in May, the worst for a governing party in more than 30 years. Barred from standing while outside Parliament, Burnham returned via a June 18 by-election in a safe seat vacated for him, and Starmer resigned days later.