2 min readUpdated: Jul 17, 2026 05:00 PM ISTLabour party's Andy Burnham was confirmed to be the party leader at a special conference in central London (Photo: AP)UK’s Andy Burnham is now leader of the labour party. The Makerfield MP was confirmed to be the party leader at a special conference in central London, before he becomes PM on Monday, BBC reported.In his first speech as leader of the Labour Party, Burnham tells the crowd he’s “ready to lead the party and to build on the foundations laid by Keir Starmer,” BBC reported. He said that under Starmer the party went from its worst defeat to their best victory and put Labour in a position to change people’s lives.He cites a number of his predecessor’s achievements, including falling NHS waiting times and rebuilding Britain’s reputation on the world stage.“I am ready to lead and to build on the foundation laid by one person more than any other. Under Keir Starmer’s leadership, we went from our worst defeat to one of the best victories in our history,” Burham said in his speech.Keir put Labour back in a position to change people’s lives and that is what we have been doing these last two years, he added.© The Indian Express Pvt LtdThe Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramAdvertisementLoading Recommendations...Jul 17: Latest News01Inside Hydrogen Train, leak detectors, auto shutdown, real time safety monitoring0221-year-old man killed after crane collapses from 11th floor, falls inside housing complex03Gates MRI, SII tie-up for manufacture TB vaccine candidate04Govt calls for IOA panel to probe ex-hockey captain’s sexual harrasment allegations05‘I promised I’d fight cancer’: NEET-UG co-topper Aryan Gupta on why he wants to be an oncologistAdvertisement