Andy Burnham has taken office as Prime Minister amid immediate political turbulence, with his pledge of Cabinet unity already viewed sceptically due to internal divisions. Tension centres on the positioning of Ed Miliband, whose hopes of becoming Chancellor appear to have been set aside, raising questions about how stable the new government will be from the outset.

Burnham's premiership breaks with convention in several ways: he plans to split his time between Manchester and Downing Street, making him Britain's first "commuter" Prime Minister, an arrangement already facing practical difficulties. His long-term partner, Marie-France Van Heel, will take on an informal First Lady role but is expected to keep a low public profile, while reports point to a significant shift in policy direction as the new administration beds in.