'Breathing space now': New UK PM Burnham vows cost-of-living relief, 10-year reform plan

Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to set out new measures to help tackle 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 on Monday.

"We have not been good enough, and we need to be better."

Promising Britons "some breathing space now", he said the government would set out some measures to tackle the high cost-of-living, and how it plans to fund them.

Further out, he said: "We will help more young people into work by changing the education system and giving them more support, more mental health support, and we will build more council homes.

"That is the fair and sustainable way to bring the welfare bill down, to meet our fiscal rules, and to honour our commitments on defence to our international partners."

Earlier, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Burnham has become the new British prime minister.

Burnham arrived at Buckingham Palace just after Keir Starmer officially resigned as prime minister.

During his meeting with King Charles III, Burnham was asked to form a new government and became the country's new prime minister.

Earlier, Starmer made his final speech as prime minister outside 10 Downing Street, and said: "My work is done."

He wished his successor Burnham "every success," and thanked Downing Street staff and his wife Victoria for their support.

"Sir Keir Starmer MP had an audience of The King this morning and tendered his resignation as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury, which His Majesty was graciously pleased to accept," the palace said in a statement.

Burnham is expected to arrive at 10 Downing Street to hold his first speech as prime minister later Monday.

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Source: TRT