Will Andy Burnham be the UK's new Prime Minister?

**Ankur Desai** (0:00)
This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service.
Hi, I'm Ankur Desai, and in the early hours of Tuesday, the 23rd of June, these are our main stories. A dramatic day in Westminster, the UK Prime Minister steps down, and his likely successor steps in. After the first round of talks with the US in Switzerland, Iran's lead negotiator has reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz will be administered by Tehran. And South Sudan grapples with a food crisis that is affecting millions.
Also in this podcast, we pay tribute to the man who shaped Bruce Springsteen and Whitney Houston's careers. The American music executive Clive Davis has died at the age of 94 And at the Football World Cup, more messy magic.

**Tim Vickery** (0:50)
It was clear that Argentina had become his number one priority. I just don't want the carnival to end.

**Ankur Desai** (0:56)
Argentina's Lionel Messi becomes the all-time leading scorer at the tournament. We begin with a dramatic day in Downing Street, as the British Prime Minister leaves number 10

**Keir Starmer** (1:09)
Every decision I've taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party.

**Ankur Desai** (1:19)
His likely successor enters Westminster.

**Andy Burnham** (1:22)
I swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.

**Ankur Desai** (1:34)
Andy Burnham was sworn in as an MP hours after Keir Starmer stepped down from the top job. In an emotional speech, the Prime Minister touted his achievements over the past two years and said he would now focus on being a family man.
Meanwhile, Andy Burnham's focus is firmly set on 10 Downing Street as he confirmed that he would bid to fill the vacancy. Some other MPs are also considering putting their names in the hat. But the so-called King of the North is favourite to win. Our political correspondent Rob Watson has been following what's been a day of big changes and mixed emotions for the Labour Party.

**Rob Watson** (2:12)
It was a dramatic day and although it wasn't very unsurprising, you have to keep pinching yourself and say, my goodness, Britain has just got rid of a sixth Prime Minister in ten years. Unsurprising because it had been pretty clear that support was draining away from him from inside the Downing Street but still that moment when he stepped out from behind the famous black door and announced he was resigning because the Labour Party didn't want him anymore and then after all those two years of never revealing even a hint of emotion to suddenly at the very end show how sad he was. Attention now focuses to who will replace him.
And essentially, Ankerith, if nothing else happens, it will be Andy Burnham, who is the outgoing Mayor of Greater Manchester, who will become the leader of the Labour Party and the next Prime Minister in the middle of July unless, of course, someone challenges him for the leadership or indeed if the Labour Party decides to move that schedule forward.

**Ankur Desai** (3:10)
It doesn't seem like there's going to be a challenge. It feels like a real coronation and someone not very long back as an MP is going to be leading the country, which is quite an incredible set of events.

**Rob Watson** (3:20)
It is and the argument in favour of a coronation is it's going to be hard enough to sell the idea of a seventh Prime Minister to the British voters in ten years and that it would only make things worse if you had some horrible angry debate with inside the governing Labour Party. The argument against that is, well, if you are going to have a seventh Prime Minister, you better make sure that they are tested in debate. But it does look like more of a coronation. As to the challenge that he faces, I mean, it's extraordinary. He will have only just become an MP again after being the Mayor of Greater Manchester. And in pretty short order, he's going to have to get a government together. And that's no mean feat. It involves tens and tens of ministers. It means getting some policies together and facing all the challenges that did for Keir Starmer, which are basically a sluggish economy, public services stretched and kind of concerns over social cohesion and emigration. None of that stuff is going to go away.

**Ankur Desai** (4:17)
What do we know about his politics? And are we going to see a bit of a change for Labour in terms of how they position themselves going forward? And what's going to make him so distinctive or set him apart from those that have failed, I guess, before him?