Historic Event: Andy Burnham Becomes the First Catholic to Serve as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

On July 20, 2026, a landmark event took place in British political life: Andy Burnham officially took office as the country’s prime minister, becoming the first Catholic to lead the British government. This appointment came after King Charles III accepted the resignation of the previous prime minister, Keir Starmer. This was reported by The Catholic Herald.

The new head of the Cabinet, who previously served as mayor of Greater Manchester for nine years, was elected leader of the Labour Party just a few days before his appointment. Burnam comes from a family with Irish roots, was educated in Roman Catholic schools, and has openly spoken about his faith throughout his career, including during a meeting with Pope Francis in 2023.

This appointment underscores significant changes in the religious makeup of the United Kingdom’s top leadership. Historically, most prime ministers have belonged to the Church of England, but the situation has changed in recent years: Bernam’s predecessor, Keir Starmer, identified as an atheist, and Rishi Sunak is a follower of Hinduism.