Andy Burnham becomes UK prime minister

Andy Burnham officially became British prime minister on Monday -- the country's seventh leader in 10 years -- having already been elected as the leader of the country's Labour Party last week, ABC News reported.

Burnham, who until recently was serving as the mayor of Greater Manchester, succeeded outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Speaking outside the prime minister's official residence -- 10 Downing Street -- on Monday morning, Starmer said, "Today I am here to offer my resignation and close the book on my time as prime minister. My work is done."

"I thank the British people for the opportunity to serve. I go with good grace, I go with a smile, and I go proud of everything that we have achieved. Thank you very much," Starmer added.

Of his successor, the outgoing prime minister said, "I now pass the baton to Andy Burnham, I wish him every success. He has my full support."

After his address, Starmer traveled the short distance to Buckingham Palace to formally inform King Charles III of his resignation. Burnham then also traveled to palace where the king asked him to form a government.

The new prime minister then traveled to Downing Street to give his first address, telling the assembled press that Britain must show "that we can regain our stability."

Burnham said his appointment will serve as "a circuit-breaker" for the country, pledging to deliver a new political and economic model and a 10-year plan.

Among the new prime's commitments were to address cost of living concerns, help young people into work, end homelessness, re-industrialize the country, put "life's essentials back under public control" and push for more local powers.

Through the rest of Monday, Burnham is expected to begin appointing cabinet ministers from Number 10.

Burnham was the only candidate in the subsequent leadership election, ultimately winning nominations from 379 of the 403 Labour members of parliament -- of the 650 MPs in total -- in the House of Commons.

In accepting the leadership of Labour last week, Burnham said his mission was "to bring back hope" and address decades of economic inequality plus falling living standards. 

"We must recognize that this generation of politicians -- myself included -- have failed to challenge a political culture and an economic model that simply doesn't work well enough for ordinary people," he said.

Burnham will become the seventh leader to take the reins of the country in 10 years, a reflection of the political and economic turbulence that has beset the country since the Brexit vote in 2016.

The incoming prime minister said he would also make British politics "less toxic, adding, "I will work to build a new politics. The country is crying out for it."