Andy Burnham, leader of Britain's Labour Party, is set to formally take office as prime minister today, 21 July, becoming the country's seventh prime minister in 10 years. He succeeds Keir Starmer amid challenges of a sluggish economy, cost-of-living pressures, and the performance of public services. The 56-year-old Burnham has announced the scrapping of a heavily criticised digital identity card scheme for workers and is moving quickly to form a new cabinet, with the chancellor of the exchequer post still undecided. Meanwhile, Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell said the new government will focus on tackling the cost of living and reshaping the country's economic strategy.