Andy Burnham has taken office as Prime Minister, with the transition marked by early political turbulence. His declared aim of Cabinet unity was met with scepticism from the outset, largely due to tension over the positioning of Ed Miliband, whose expected appointment as Chancellor appears to have been shelved, prompting doubts about the new government's stability.

Burnham's premiership breaks with convention in several respects. He intends to divide his time between Manchester and Downing Street, becoming Britain's first "commuter" Prime Minister, an arrangement that has already run into practical difficulties. His long-term partner, Marie-France Van Heel, has taken on an informal First Lady-style role while keeping a low public profile, and reports indicate the new administration is pursuing a marked shift in policy direction as it settles in.