Andy Burnham Sworn In as UK Prime Minister Amid Promises to Nationalize Services and Pressure Israel

Andy Burnham officially assumes office as the UK Prime Minister today, replacing Keir Starmer who resigned following a Labour Party rebellion. Burnham, the seventh UK prime minister in a decade, will be formally appointed by King Charles at Buckingham Palace before delivering his first speech at 10 Downing Street. He is expected to announce a new cabinet with key changes, including appointing current Home Secretary Suhana Mahmood as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Burnham, 56, previously Greater Manchester mayor and known as the "King of the North" for advocating northern England's rights, was elected Labour leader last month without a primary contest, securing overwhelming parliamentary support. Labour holds a majority in the 650-seat parliament, automatically making Burnham prime minister. His leadership aims to restore political stability and improve daily life, focusing on reducing living costs by nationalizing public utilities like water, electricity, and public transport.

Despite initial low public recognition, Burnham enjoys higher popularity than Starmer, with a recent YouGov poll showing 34% positive versus 38% negative ratings, a significant improvement over his predecessor's -45% net rating. Burnham represents Labour's soft left, criticizing decades of neoliberal privatization since the Thatcher era and pledging to decentralize power from London to local governments. He plans to maintain fiscal discipline while expanding state control over public services.

On energy policy, Burnham is expected to approve new North Sea oil and gas drilling, reversing Starmer's climate-focused stance, drawing praise from former US President Donald Trump. However, the extent of new drilling approvals remains unclear, with Burnham likely to follow Labour's 2024 manifesto opposing new licenses but pragmatically allowing expansions in previously approved areas.

In foreign policy, Burnham has apologized for Labour's initial support of Israel during the Gaza conflict and pledged increased pressure on the Israeli government. He refrained from labeling the Gaza events as genocide but acknowledged growing evidence of war crimes, leaving judgments to international courts. Burnham criticized Israeli settlement expansion and settler violence, advocating for possible sanctions and trade restrictions on goods from illegal settlements. His government faces pressure from the left to ban all arms shipments to Israel and to adopt a tougher stance on anti-Israel groups.

Conservative opposition leader Camie Baydenock urged Burnham not to raise taxes and criticized his lack of clear plans or parliamentary accountability. Burnham's premiership begins amid political turmoil and looming elections by 2029, with Labour seeking to prevent a far-right Reform UK victory under Nigel Farage.