After Andy Burnham, the newly elected leader of the Labour Party, took charge as the UK's new premier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended
his congratulations. In a post on social media platform X on Tuesday, PM Modi said that he is looking forward to deepening the trade and people-to-people ties between India and the UK. "Warmest congratulations to Mr. Andy Burnham on assuming office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. India and the UK are bound by shared democratic values and enjoy wide-ranging cooperation across trade, investment, technology, defence and people-to-people relations," PM Modi wrote on X. "With CETA entering into force this month, our bilateral partnership is poised to grow even stronger. I look forward to working closely with you to further deepen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and advance our shared Vision 2035," he added.
Andy Burnham takes charge as UK's new Prime Minister
Andy Burnham has taken charge as the UK's new Prime Minister. King Charles III invited the 56-year-old former mayor of Greater Manchester to form a new government following the resignation of Keir Starmer moments earlier to mark the formal handover of power.
"The Rt. Hon. 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," a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said.
Burnham, elected Labour leader unopposed last week, is expected to get to work as PM immediately by announcing his picks for Cabinet. The country's fifth Prime Minister in four years has pledged to bring in "stable and responsible" politics.
Earlier, Starmer delivered his final address from 10 Downing Street as Britain's Prime Minister before making his way to meet the King to formally tender his resignation.
"My work is done," he said.
The 63-year-old Labour MP, who announced his decision to step down last month, said he was "passing the baton" to Burnham, who had his "full support".
"I go with good grace, I go with a smile and I go proud of everything that we have achieved," said Starmer.
His Cabinet colleagues and officials lined up to applaud his departure from Downing Street after two years, having won a landslide election for Labour in the July 2024 general election.
(With agency inputs)
