Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Monday, July 20, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Monday, July 20, 2026
Andy Burnham officially becomes Britain’s prime minister, its 7th in a decade
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Britain's King Charles III welcomes Andy Burnham, left, during an audience at Buckingham Palace, London, where he invited the leader of the Labour Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government, July 20, 2026. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP)
LONDON — Andy Burnham is officially Britain’s new prime minister, the country’s seventh within a decade.
Burnham formally accepted an invitation from King Charles III to form a government.
Buckingham Palace has released a photo of the two men shaking hands. The ceremony known as “kissing hands” marks the transfer of power from former leader Keir Starmer to Burnham.
Burnham replaced Starmer as leader of the center-left governing Labour Party last week.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
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