LONDON (AP) — Andy Burnham is set to become the United Kingdom’s prime minister on Monday after meeting King Charles III at Buckingham Palace and being invited to form a government, succeeding Keir Starmer. Britain’s parliamentary system permits the governing party to change its leader, and thus the prime minister, without a general election; the next election is not due until 2029. Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, won the Labour Party leadership contest on Friday, receiving nominations from 379 of the 403 Labour members of the House of Commons, leaving him as the sole candidate. He pledged to make politics less toxic, improve living standards and restore hope, and said his government would focus on generating economic growth, which he described as essential for addressing national challenges. In his first remarks as Labour leader, Burnham said he was ‘acutely aware’ of recent leadership changes in the country and would work to build a new politics. Starmer, who became Labour leader in 2020 after the party’s worst election result, announced his resignation last month following criticism of his performance and said he would step down after a series of missteps that weakened his standing. The transition will see Starmer travel to Buckingham Palace on Monday morning to formally resign, after which Burnham will be received by the monarch and asked to form a government in a ceremony known as ‘kissing hands.’ Burnham is expected to announce his first cabinet appointments after his speech outside 10 Downing Street, with potential changes to the Treasury, foreign and home secretary positions. Analysts note that his ability to deliver on promises will depend on achieving significant economic growth, according to Joshi Herrmann, founder of Manchester news site The Mill. Starmer’s tenure included legislation to strengthen worker protections, reduce child poverty and increase defense spending, which he highlighted during his final Prime Minister’s Questions session. Burnham will travel from the palace to Downing Street, where he is expected to deliver a brief statement to the public. The political shift marks the seventh change of prime minister since 2016, and Burnham’s government will face the challenge of maintaining stability amid ongoing economic pressures.