ANDY Burnham, newly elected leader of the Labour Party, on Monday tookchargeas theUK's new Prime Minister. In hisinaugural speech at 10 Downing Street, Burnham said hewillmakepoliticsmoreabout problem-solving and ensurehis appointmentisa“circuitbreaker”moment for the country. The 56-year-old leader of the LabourPartybroke from prime ministerial tradition by choosing to address the nation from his new headquarters without the customary podium usedby most of his predecessors. “We will make this moment acircuit-breaker for Britain, bringing forwardthe biggest changes in the last 40 years; a new political model and a new economic model,”Burnham said in his first address as PM.

 

Accompanied by hiswife Marie-Francevan Heel and surrounded by several party colleagues expected to be appointed among his close aides, Burnham pledged a collaborative approach and singled out “ending rough sleeping”among his priorities by buildingmore homes.“We will help people to livewell, building a more preventative state, investingin people's success,rather than paying for people's failure;and that work starts now,”said Burnham. “I will soon go through that door behind me and issue my first instruction: to end rough sleeping in our country,”hesaid. Burnham took formalcharge as Britain’s new Prime Minister after his audience with King Charles III, whoinvited the former mayor of Greater Manchester to forma new Government following the resignation of Keir Starmer moments earlier to markthe formal handover of power. “His Majesty received in audience the Rt. Hon. Andrew Burnham MP and requested him to formanew administration,” a Buckingham Palace statement said.