He paused in front of a lady, resplendent in the summer sunshine in her bright-white blazer over black blouse. It was Eileen Burnham, the new prime minister\u2019s mother. Their embrace was lasting and tender, the emotion creased across both their faces.<\/p>\n
Burnham credits his parents, and in particular his mother, for seeding his personal ambition and also for imbuing him with the strong values he says drives his politics.<\/p>\n
She also gave Burnham his religion as a baptised Catholic, which he says helped shape his political outlook on issues such as the duty to combat poverty.<\/p>\n
![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/KEAOOVATBAPG7UDMFBXE4DHYHA.jpg\")
New UK prime minister Andy Burnham embraces his mother Eileen. Photograph: Oli Scarff\/AFP via Getty Images <\/p>\n
Now he was the UK Labour Party\u2019s first Catholic prime minister. Eileen Burnham\u2019s boy had done good. All he\u2019d ever wanted was to be leader of Britain. Now, as he took office with lofty promises to end rough sleeping and build social care, he had to govern it.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet us make this the moment when Britain starts to believe again, the moment we bring back hope,\u201d he said before walking through the black door.<\/p>\n
Burnham\u2019s first hope had better be that he fares better in the role than his litany of short-lived predecessors.<\/p>\n
Earlier, before the final goodbyes of the ousted Keir Starmer<\/a> from outside Number 10, Downing Street had been a hive of activity. Broadcasters had spent the weekend marking with tape coveted positions on the street, the best camera angles to witness the end of one man\u2019s political journey and the beginning of a new era under another.<\/p>\n The street was full by 8.30am, its hastily-rigged broadcast platforms heaving beneath the weight of journalists from across the world delivering pieces-to-camera.<\/p>\n The omnipresent patchwork of protesters of various hues that usually congregates at the bottom of Downing Street had been pushed back a little. There was also no sign of Steve Bray, the music-blaring anti-Brexit campaigner whose aural interludes were the soundtrack to every UK prime ministerial change since Boris Johnson<\/a>\u2019s 2022 exit.<\/p>\n This time, London\u2019s Metropolitan Police had decided to enforce temporary regulations banning the use of amplifiers on Whitehall. Starmer\u2019s speech last month announcing that he intended to step down had been marred by loud music. On Monday, as he finally quit, he would be afforded a little more dignity.<\/p>\n Choppers began to swirl overhead at about 10.30am as the big news networks anticipated Starmer\u2019s drive to Buckingham Palace, where he would ask Britain\u2019s king Charles to accept his resignation and recommend that Burnham replace him.<\/p>\n At about the same time, junior government figures entered Number 10, including James Timpson, a businessman-turned prisons minister, and Patrick Vallance, the UK government\u2019s chief medical adviser during Covid who later became a science minister.<\/p>\n Both men had just quit the government before Burnham took over, thereby avoiding a purge of Starmer loyalists \u2013 that was to follow later. Now, they had arrived to say goodbye to their leader as his time neared an end.<\/p>\n The famous, well-used Downing Street lectern was pulled out on to the cobblestones at about 11am. Political staff soon streamed out the doors of Number 11, the office and home of the chancellor of the exchequer, and Number 10 next door.<\/p>\n They were soon joined by a large group of senior Labour political figures, including deputy prime minister David Lammy, chancellor Rachel Reeves and housing secretary Steve Reed. Starmer loyalists, all would be sacked by Burnham before the day was out.<\/p>\n The staff and politicians all gathered outside the door waiting for the exiting PM. Many of them were wearing shades to combat the glaring sunshine. In their suits and dark glasses, they looked a bit like a gospel choir, or a convention of Blues Brothers fans.<\/p>\n Starmer eventually emerged from Downing Street at 11.15am, which was the precise time suggested by Number 10 staff several days previously \u2013 the outgoing prime minister was reliably managerial, right to the final minute.<\/p>\n Less emotional this time than he had been last month when announcing he was quitting, Starmer focused on his legacy, highlighting his achievements since entering office: \u201cI am confident that Britain is now stronger and fairer than it was two years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Outgoing](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/UDB4QHQ677OVA5IHSXGG2L2NKE.jpg\")
Outgoing prime minister Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves. Photograph: Peter Nicholls\/ AFP via Getty Images <\/p>\n
![\"Andy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IBAYCRJIUIAD3UYUQFVUJYT4GE.jpg\")
Andy Burnham, UK prime minister, speaks outside 10 Downing Street. Photograph: Chris J Ratcliffe\/Bloomberg <\/p>\n