Andy Burnham will become prime minister on Monday after spending the weekend preparing to move into Downing Street and finalising his ministerial appointments, his team has said.
When the handover will happen
The formal process begins on Monday when Sir Keir Starmer is due to visit Buckingham Palace to offer his resignation to the King. Mr Burnham will then be invited to the palace to be received by the monarch and to formally take up the office.
| Planned steps | Expected timing |
|---|---|
| Sir Keir Starmer offers resignation to the King | Monday |
| Andy Burnham meets the King to "kiss hands" and be invited to form a government | Monday |
| Announcement of ministerial team | Monday (to follow) |
Cabinet choices still being finalised
Mr Burnham told reporters he was still finalising his cabinet after intense speculation in Westminster about key roles. Questions have focused on who will become chancellor, with Labour’s left reportedly favouring Ed Miliband while other reports have linked the job to the current Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood. Mr Burnham said there had been "too much" speculation and that he would announce his ministerial team on Monday.
“I am finalising those decisions, and I will come to conclusions very shortly, and then I will announce those on Monday.”
Policy priorities and the first week in office
Allies say Mr Burnham intends to make a "dynamic start" focused on measures to ease the cost-of-living squeeze. He is expected to use his first Downing Street address to set out plans to give people "breathing space" on living costs and to promote devolution, central to his message.
Mr Burnham has emphasised transferring powers away from Whitehall to the regions. That devolution agenda will, his team says, be driven from a base in Manchester branded as "No 10 North", and he is expected to visit the city during his first week as prime minister.
Security briefings and immediate preparations
Officials have begun to provide Mr Burnham with national security briefings. He has held discussions with civil servants about immediate priorities and the first official events he will attend once formally in office. Allies said there is an appetite to deliver "tangible change" early in his premiership.
- Formal transfer of power to take place at Buckingham Palace on Monday.
- Ministerial appointments to be announced on Monday after Mr Burnham finalises decisions.
- Early priorities include cost-of-living measures and a push for devolution from Manchester.
For Denbighshire readers, the incoming government's emphasis on regional power could alter how decisions affecting local services and funding are made — an area to watch as the new administration publishes its first statements and policy documents.
