Andy Burnham delivers first address as UK’s next PM; first calls would include Trump and Zelenskiy

LONDON: Britain’s new Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Monday promised to set out new measures to help with the cost of living this week before setting out a new 10-year plan for the country later this year.

“Britain needs to show the world that we can regain our stability once again,” Burnham said in a speech outside 10 Downing Street.

Speaking about his first calls Burnham said they would include U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, adding that Britain’s support for Ukraine would remain unchanged under his leadership.

In a clip recorded before he was officially appointed as British leader but released after his speech in Downing Street, Burnham was asked who he would contact first and whether that would be Trump, Zelenskiy or another world leader. He replied by saying said those two would be among his first calls.

He said he would make clear to Zelenskiy that there would be “no change” in Britain’s backing for Ukraine and that he would support the Ukrainian leader “100%” as his predecessor Keir Starmer had done.

“President Zelenskiy will be left in no doubt whatsoever that Britain’s support is steadfast, it is resolute. It will be there for him, and I will be there for him personally too,” Burnham told reporters.

Seventh prime minister in a decade

As Britain’s seventh prime minister in 10 years, Burham will be inheriting a country grappling with weak economic growth, political instability and the long-term effects of Brexit.

The political upheaval began in 2016 when the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, prompting then-prime minister David Cameron to resign. His successor, Theresa May, struggled to secure parliamentary backing for her Brexit deal and stepped down in 2019.

Boris Johnson then led the Conservatives to a decisive election victory and completed Britain’s formal exit from the EU in January 2020. However, he resigned in 2022 following a series of scandals. Liz Truss succeeded him but lasted just 44 days after her tax-cutting budget triggered market turmoil, paving the way for Rishi Sunak.

Labour returned to power under Keir Starmer in July 2024, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. However, his government soon came under pressure over tax increases, welfare policy reversals and declining public support, while Nigel Farage’s Reform UK gained momentum in opinion polls. Cabinet resignations and heavy losses in local elections further weakened Starmer’s position.

Burnham’s victory in a northern English constituency in June 2026 boosted his standing within Labour. Starmer resigned days later, saying he was no longer the right person to lead the party, and Burnham secured the Labour leadership unopposed after winning overwhelming backing from party lawmakers.