Why Britain is getting a new prime minister without a general election

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Veteran Labour Party politician and popular former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham became Britain’s prime minister in July, formally taking over from Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation last June.

Burnham was the only candidate to secure enough support from his fellow Labour lawmakers to replace Starmer as leader of the governing party. Because Labour holds a majority in government, its leader also becomes the U.K. prime minister.

Burnham received support from 349 out of 401 Labour Party lawmakers and was announced Labour leader at a special party conference. He didn’t officially become prime minister right away, though—that happened when he met King Charles III at Buckingham Palace for a formal go-ahead.

Britain’s parliamentary democracy allows governing parties to change leaders midterm, with the winner becoming prime minister without the need for a general election. Prime ministers can be replaced if one has resigned as leader of their party, or been forced out by a leadership challenge. The next national election does not have to be held until 2029, five years from the last election in 2024.

Starmer announced he was quitting as Labour leader on June 22 after barely two years in power, ending a tenure marred by a series of political missteps—most notably his decision to appoint a man with close ties to the controversial figure Jeffrey Epstein as Britain’s ambassador to the United States. Heavy losses suffered by Labour in a midterm set of local elections in May prompted many lawmakers to demand Starmer’s resignation. And when Burnham—favored by many within Labour to lead the party and the country—won a special election for a seat in Parliament, Starmer gave in to the mounting pressure to quit.

His resignation automatically triggered a Labour leadership contest. Under Labour rules, a lawmaker can challenge the leader if they have the backing of a fifth of the party’s House of Commons lawmakers. There was no other contestant other than Burnham, who comfortably surpassed that threshold.

This article and video were provided by The Associated Press.

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Jill Lawless (reporting): “Britain is getting a new Prime Minister, it’s seventh since 2016. Andy Burnham has replaced Keir Starmer as leader of the Labour Party and he’s about to succeed him as leader of the country, becoming the newest resident of 10 Downing Street. Burnham will take office through a well-rehearsed piece of constitutional choreography. First, Starmer will travel a mile or so from here to Buckingham Palace and formally offer his resignation to King Charles III. The king will then invite Burnham to the palace, where he’ll ask him to form a government. There’s no need for an election. In Britain, governing parties can change their leaders in midterm without the need to seek a new mandate from voters.”

[UK Labour Party lawmaker Andy Burnham celebrating being elected]

[UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer entering 10 Downing Street with his wife Victoria]

Jill Lawless (reporting): “It’s only been two years since Labour took power in a landslide under Starmer, but things went downhill fast. Starmer made a series of missteps, he was forced into policy U-turns and the party quickly lost popularity. And earlier this year, Labour took the nuclear option, forcing him to resign. Burnham’s rise to the top has been even quicker. Six weeks ago, he wasn’t even a member of parliament. He was the mayor of Greater Manchester. But he won a special election for a seat in the House of Commons and he declared that he would run in a leadership contest to replace Starmer. In the end, there wasn’t a contest. Burnham had so much momentum that no one ran against him.”

Lindsay Hoyle (making an announcement): “We now come to Andy Burnham, member for Makerfield.”

[Burnham walking to be officially sworn in as member of parliament]

Jill Lawless (reporting): “Burnham takes office with huge support from the Labour Party, but also carrying huge expectations. And he has to convince a skeptical British public that he can make people’s lives better. We may get some sense about how he plans to do that when he makes his first speech as Prime Minister in Downing Street on Monday afternoon.”

[Burnham walking down the street]

[Burnham speaking with police officers]

This script was provided by The Associated Press.

The related lesson for this video will be published next Wednesday.