Andy Burnham has become the new Prime Minister, replacing Sir Keir Starmer following his resignation.
The former Mayor of Greater Manchester was invited to form a government by King Charles III on Monday 20 July 2026. In his first speech outside 10 Downing Street, Burnham called the moment a “circuit breaker for Britain” and promised to take action on the cost of living, housing, transport and social care.
For students and young people, those promises will sound familiar. Rent is expensive, bills remain high and finding a secure graduate job can be difficult. Many students are working alongside their studies just to cover everyday costs, while graduates are entering a job market where employers often ask for experience before offering someone their first real opportunity.
Burnham has built much of his reputation outside Westminster. As Mayor of Greater Manchester, he pushed for more regional control over public transport and introduced a locally managed bus network with capped fares. He now wants to give more power to cities and regions across the country.
That could make a real difference to students. Cheaper and more reliable public transport would help those travelling to lectures, part-time jobs and work placements. Greater regional investment could also create more graduate opportunities outside London, allowing young people to begin their careers without feeling that they have to move to the capital.
Housing is another major issue. Students and recent graduates are dealing with high rents, limited accommodation and landlords who do not always maintain properties properly. Burnham has suggested that his government could introduce stronger protection for renters, although the details have not yet been confirmed.
He has also promised to tackle long-term rough sleeping. This matters to young people because homelessness does not always mean sleeping on the street. It can include staying temporarily with friends, living in unsafe accommodation or being unable to return home after university.
There are still many unanswered questions. Burnham has not yet explained what his government will do about tuition fees, student maintenance support or the growing amount of debt carried by graduates.
Students will also want to hear more about apprenticeships, paid work experience and entry-level employment. Too many internships remain unpaid or are only realistic for people whose families can support them. If the government is serious about widening opportunity, it needs to make sure that a young person’s background does not decide which careers are open to them.
Burnham’s plans for regional investment could help universities, colleges and employers work together more closely. Courses and training programmes could be designed around the skills needed in local industries, giving students a clearer route from education into employment.
However, education should not simply be treated as a way of filling vacancies. Universities and colleges also help young people think independently, develop confidence and understand the world around them. Any new approach needs to recognise that wider value.
Burnham has promised a different style of government, with less power concentrated in Westminster and more decisions made locally. For a generation that has lived through the pandemic, rising prices, political instability and an increasingly uncertain job market, the idea of change may be welcome.
But young people have heard plenty of promises before. They will judge the new Prime Minister on whether rents become more affordable, transport improves and good jobs become easier to find.
A change in Downing Street will not immediately change student life. It could, however, create an opportunity to take the concerns of young people more seriously. The question now is whether Andy Burnham will use it.