Andy Burnham becomes the UK's seventh prime minister in a decade after Starmer resigns

LONDON (AP) — Andy Burnham took office Monday as Britain's new prime minister, promising a 10-year plan to restore political stability and revive the economy while acknowledging that six other U.K. leaders have tried and failed to do so in the past decade. Speaking outside 10 Downing St. minutes after being formally appointed by King Charles III, Burnham pledged to ease the cost of living for ordinary people, decentralize political power, revitalize industry and end street sleeping by homeless people. He said he would deliver a 'circuit breaker' for a system that has taken wrong turns since the 1980s, when public services and utilities were privatized and local government eroded. 'We will take power out of here and carry it into every postcode in the land so that they can do more and in doing more, build a new economy where we put life's essentials back under stronger public control to make them affordable to you again,' he said. Burnham said: 'This is a moment for reflection and new resolution. It requires my generation of politicians to raise our game and rise to the new challenge.' Starmer said in his farewell remarks: 'It has been the privilege of my life to serve you and this great country as prime minister. I am confident that Britain is now stronger and fairer than it was two years ago.' Cabinet appointments announced Monday included John Healey as chancellor of the exchequer, Ed Miliband moved to foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper moved to health secretary, and Shabana Mahmood retained as home secretary. Burnham faces economic stagnation, a cost-of-living crisis, overstretched public services, and international concerns regarding conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The next national election is not required until 2029.