Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS and Shakira each brought a bit of one of their hits to the World Cup's first halftime show in a whirlwind performance Sunday that also squeezed in Burna Boy, Ted Lasso and many Muppets.
The show at what's otherwise known as MetLife Stadium, outside New York, was an attempt to bring Super Bowl vibes to the World Cup, but the 11-minute performance was considerably more packed than the usual one-headliner, 13-minute American football counterpart. Each headliner here spent about two minutes performing.
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Justin Bieber performs at halftime during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Shakira performs during halftime during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Ronaldinho, left, and Ronaldo stand with Madonna as she performs during the halftime show in the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Shakira performs during halftime during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Dancers perform as colorful smoke rises above the stadium during the halftime show at the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
South Korean boy band BTS perform during the halftime show of the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Tom Cruise speaks during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Singer Post Malone, left and Swae Lee perform prior to the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Robbie Williams sings before the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Singer Post Malone performs during the tournament closing ceremony before the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Spectators watch as Madonna performs during half time of the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Madonna opened the show with her 2000 dance-pop hit “Music,” joined by star Brazilian soccer players of yesteryear, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. It started with an apparently prerecorded piece in a roller rink before she rode into the stadium on a dune buggy, singing, “Music, makes the people come together.”
Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel led an orchestra through the White Stripes’ sports anthem “Seven Nation Army,” while the Muppets house band — including drummer Animal in lieu of Meg White — provided furry shakes in the background.
K-pop sensations BTS took to the field in variations of red and black moments later singing “Dynamite” following a nod to Norway's Viking row.
Promoting the upcoming season of “Ted Lasso,” Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt, in character, pumped up Justin Bieber, who changed the tempo with “Everything Hallelujah,” performed with an acoustic guitar and a casual feel.
“Alright young man, let’s go! It’s your big shot!” Sudeikis said to Bieber. “Go out there, don’t be nervous, nobody’s watching.”
Shakira and Burna Boy followed with their official World Cup anthem “Dai Dai,” heard before all 104 kickoffs during this tournament. The Colombian superstar was barefoot, wearing a dress of yellow and pink feathers and surrounded by similarly clad dancers — including a group of children — before the Afrobeats icon joined her in the song whose refrain is an Italian version of “Let's go!”
Shakira has virtually made a genre out of World Cup songs, including 2010's “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).”
The show wrapped with the PS22 Chorus of elementary-school students from Staten Island, backed by Dudamel and joined by Chris Martin — the Coldplay singer who curated the performance — along with Shakira and many more Muppets and “Sesame Street” characters, including Kermit, Miss Piggy, Count von Count and Cookie Monster.
Dudamel and about 40 musicians — about half from the New York Philharmonic and half from Venezuela's Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra — were on the field, though their music was prerecorded Wednesday at the Manhattan Center.
Afterward, Javier Bardem was among the Spanish fans at the stadium celebrating their home country's second World Cup win. Bardem danced and pumped his fist as he celebrated the win.
Other stars at the game included Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner, and Matt Damon, who was having a big weekend with the epic opening of “The Odyssey.” He was with his wife, Luciana Barroso Damon, who wore the colors of her native Argentina.
Jennifer Hudson, Robbie Williams and others performed a slew of anthems, Post Malone brought an old hit and a new tune and Tom Cruise gave an earnest hype-'em-up speech in the pre-match closing ceremony.
British singer and former Take That member Williams performed his FIFA anthem “Desire,” wearing a blue bedazzled track suit. He was joined by Pussycat Dolls member Nicole Scherzinger and Italian singer Laura Pausini in blue spangled gowns. Williams had released the song a year ago but dropped a new version with the two women earlier in the week.
The streamer IShowSpeed took the field first to perform his World Cup-themed song “Champions,” atop an image of the Empire State Building. Next was Post Malone, who walked on to the New York/New Jersey Stadium pitch covered with a tarp showing the New York skyline. He sung a brand new song, “Chrome Heartbreaker,” and was joined by Swae Lee to perform their 2018 duet “Sunflower” on a hexagon-heavy stage in the center of the field.
Cruise, who was also part of the Paris Olympics’ closing ceremony, followed them with a speech delivered in polo shirt and jeans.
“Today only two teams remain: España!” Cruise said, pausing for cheers before adding, “y Argentina!”
“Let us celebrate a tournament that brought the world together,” he said.
Most of the national anthems were piped in during the tournament, but they were performed live on Sunday. EGOT winner and talk show host Jennifer Hudson sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Wearing a white suit with red, white and blue trim, she stood in front of a bank of flags of the world, singing a cappella before being joined by a brass band.
Spanish Brass played Spain's instrumental “La Marcha Real,” followed by Argentina’s “Himno Nacional Argentino,” sung by pop star María Becerra, clad in a flowing dress reminiscent of the Argentine flag.
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
Justin Bieber performs at halftime during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Shakira performs during halftime during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Ronaldinho, left, and Ronaldo stand with Madonna as she performs during the halftime show in the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Shakira performs during halftime during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Dancers perform as colorful smoke rises above the stadium during the halftime show at the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
South Korean boy band BTS perform during the halftime show of the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Tom Cruise speaks during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Singer Post Malone, left and Swae Lee perform prior to the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Robbie Williams sings before the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Singer Post Malone performs during the tournament closing ceremony before the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Spectators watch as Madonna performs during half time of the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
LONDON (AP) — Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester and new leader of the Labour Party, took the final steps on Monday to succeed Keir Starmer and become Britain's seventh prime minister in a decade.
The affable Burnham returned to Parliament in June by winning a risky special election and was sworn in as a member on July 12, hours after the unpopular Starmer announced his resignation to end a tenure of just two years in office.
Starmer traveled the mile from Downing Street to Buckingham Palace on Monday to formally tell King Charles III that he was resigning and Charles accepted, Buckingham Palace said.
The 56-year-old Burnham then arrived at the palace and accepted the invitation by Charles to form a government in a moment known as “kissing hands.”
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President Donald Trump has spoken to Burnham, the White House said Monday, without providing details.
It was one of Burnham’s first phone calls since he entered No.10 Downing Street.
Burnham, who has little foreign policy experience, has said that Britain will remain a firm United States ally.
Relations with the U.S. could depend on how he interacts with a Trump, who initially gave Starmer glowing reviews only to sour on him for not supporting his war with Iran.
Congratulating Burnham, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X that he was “looking forward to our conversation later today,” adding that the “foundation of our bilateral relations is stronger than ever, and we will continue to make each other stronger.”
Burnham’s predecessor, Keir Starmer, who stood down earlier, was a high-profile supporter of Ukraine in its war with Russia. He said he had provided the country with “political, defense, and values-based support.”
Burnham, who has very little foreign policy experience, has said he will continue to provide Ukraine with the support it needs.
In an interview with The Times published Sunday, Burnham revealed that his father’s illness meant he was not aware his son is taking the nation’s top job.
“That’s a sadness because he would be (proud),” Burnham was quoted as saying. “It’s a family achievement … although he doesn’t know it, it still makes me feel that we’ve kind of done something together.”
He added that he recently visited his dad in his care home, alongside his two brothers and his mother. Burnham’s father Roy was a longtime Labour supporter and was a big influence in setting him on the path to politics, according to the article.
Financial markets, however, will assess Andy Burnham’s actions over the coming weeks and months to see if there is a marked change in economic direction.
There is growing speculation that Burnham will appoint the current home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, rather than Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. Many in the markets appear to have been spooked by the prospect of Miliband at the Treasury.
Any unease would likely be felt in the bond markets, where investors are already charging the U.K. higher interest rates than its peers for borrowing purposes. The U.K.’s public finances remain fragile and there’s not much room for higher spending unless Burnham raises taxes. However, Labour was elected on a manifesto pledge that it would not raise the key revenue-raising taxes, such as income tax.
With Burnham now installed as prime minister, attention turns to his choices for Cabinet, particularly the key post of Treasury chief.
The appointment will be pivotal because the head of the Treasury Department, formally known as chancellor of the exchequer, controls tax and spending decisions.
Burnham’s choice will give clues about his plans as he faces the immense task of kickstarting a sluggish economy so that growing companies and increased output boost government revenue without raising taxes.
The decision has been considered finely balanced between Ed Miliband, the outgoing energy secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the current home secretary.
While Miliband comes from the party’s left wing, Mahmoud is seen as more conservative and has the advantage of being something of a blank slate in terms of economic positions, allowing Burnham to fully take the lead on the economy.
The other top jobs are defense secretary, foreign secretary and home secretary, who controls immigration and policing.
Burnham says his first calls to foreign leaders will be to U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,
Burnham has spent a decade as mayor of Greater Manchester and has little experience of international affairs.
A big question is how he will get along with Trump, the unpredictable leader of the U.K.’s closest ally.
Burnham says he wants to reassure Ukraine that “I will be with him 100%” and “Britain’s support is steadfast, it is resolute.”
One of the most solemn moments of Burnham’s first day will be the realization that he has the power to launch Britain’s nuclear missiles.
That will become clear when the U.K.’s top civil servant asks him to write “last resort letters” to the captains of the country’s four nuclear-armed submarines telling them what to do if the civilian leadership is wiped out by a nuclear attack.
It is a duty unique to Britain, where there is no “nuclear football,” the briefcase containing targeting data and launch codes that accompanies U.S. presidents wherever they go.
The letters are placed on each submarine inside safes that are to be opened only if their captains are certain Britain’s civilian leaders are dead.
The letters are destroyed unread when a new prime minister takes office. But it is believed there are four options: retaliate, don’t retaliate, use your own judgment, or put your weapons under the command of the U.S. or Australia.
In his first speech as prime minister, Burnham sketched out some of his priorities, though he offered no details and said he would set out some of the measures on Tuesday.
Burnham said he would decentralize power and help make essentials affordable again under the cost of living squeeze.
Burnham said he would back British industry and “reindustrialize Britain.”
He pledged to bring the welfare bill down and build more social housing, as well as be more supportive of the underfunded education system.
He also vowed to “end rough sleeping in this country,” referring to homeless people sleeping in the open.
European Council President Antonio Costa congratulated Burnham on his new job.
“In the last two years EU-UK relations gained a new, positive momentum. I look forward to continuing to further deepen our cooperation for the benefit of our citizens and businesses, he said in a message on X.
“The United Kingdom and the European Union are stronger together,” he added.
The U.K. left the European Union after a referendum a decade ago.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham entered Downing Street regaled by the applause traditional for a new leader.
The first time a prime minister walks through the uber-polished door of 10 Downing St., household staff and civil servants by custom line the entrance and clap for the new leader and his senior team.
It is Burnham’s introduction to the people he will live and work with, most of whom served his predecessor only a few hours earlier.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham says politicians “need to be better” in his first speech as Britain’s leader.
He is promising to deliver a “circuit breaker” for a system he says has taken wrong turns since the 1980s.
Burnham spoke outside 10 Downing St. minutes after he was formally asked to form a government by King Charles III.
In a break with tradition, Burnham ditched using a lectern, speaking in front of two microphones outside the famous shiny black door of the prime minister’s residence.
Prime ministers typically speak from a lectern clad with the royal crest that features a lion and a unicorn, the national animals, respectively, of England and Scotland.
In order to challenge Starmer for the Labour Party’s leadership position, Burnham had to take a big political gamble.
He first had to win a seat in Parliament and then amass the necessary support to launch a bid to topple Starmer.
As internal pressure mounted in May for Starmer to resign, Josh Simons, the Labour lawmaker for the seat of Makerfield near Manchester, stepped down, triggering a special election.
It was no shoe-in.
The anti-immigration Reform UK party had recently devastated Labour in local elections in the area, which had led to calls for Starmer’s resignation.
The bet paid off for Burnham, who is well-known and popular in the area, and he breezed to victory when the votes were tallied June 19.
Dozens of Labour lawmakers cheered as he was sworn in June 22.
Starmer ultimately stepped down and Burnham faced no opposition in running to become party leader.
Dark T-shirts and dark jeans are typically part of the work uniform for Burnham, who is seen as a more relaxed and natural communicator compared to the buttoned-up Starmer.
But he changed out of his usual casual wear on Monday, donning a dark suit, white dress shirt and blue tie as he met King Charles III at Buckingham Palace to get the formal go-ahead to become prime minister.
Andy Burnham has formally accepted an invitation from King Charles III to form a government.
Buckingham Palace has released a photo of the two men shaking hands. The ceremony known as “kissing hands” marks the transfer of power from former leader Keir Starmer to Burnham.
Burnham replaced Starmer as leader of the center-left governing Labour Party last week.
Burnham was chosen as Labour Party leader by 379 fellow lawmakers after Starmer said he was resigning. Because Labour holds a majority in government, its leader also becomes the U.K. prime minister.
Under Britain’s parliamentary democracy system, governing parties can change leaders midterm, with the winner becoming prime minister without the need for a general election. Prime ministers can be replaced if one has resigned as leader of their party, or been forced out by a leadership challenge.
It’s not unusual for British prime ministers to come to power without a broad election. In fact, four of the six British prime ministers in the past decade took the top job by winning internal party leadership contests to replace their predecessors, not by public vote.
Andy Burnham has arrived at Buckingham Palace to be appointed Britain’s new prime minister.
Burnham is set to meet King Charles III, who will ask him to form a government.
It comes soon after Keir Starmer went to the palace and formally resigned.
The king’s role harkens back to a time when the monarch exercised supreme power and chose a prime minister to run the government.
Today, the king has no political power, but the monarch still officially offers the job to the leader of the party that can command a majority in the House of Commons.
Starmer and his family left the palace privately.
While he was seen arriving in a chauffeured black car, helicopter footage did not show Starmer leaving.
The change of British leadership happening inside Buckingham Palace coincided with the changing of the guard outside.
With King Charles III accepting Starmer’s resignation as prime minister in the Chinese drawing room, the guards who protect the palace were changing shift.
The heavily choreographed ceremony draws thousands of tourists several days a week.
A military band in scarlet tunics and bearskin hats marched from the palace to be replaced by a fresh detachment.
One of the biggest challenges facing Britain’s new prime minister is finding a way to kickstart the U.K.’s sluggish economy so that growing companies and increased output boost government revenue without raising taxes.
It’s a problem that has bedeviled every prime minister since the financial crisis of 2008. And their failure to solve it is part of the reason that Burnham is the U.K.’s eighth prime minister in the past 16 years.
The British economy has grown an average of less than 1.5% annually since 2009, compared with an annual average of 3% in the 15 years before the financial crisis.
While devising his economic plan, Burnham will be constrained by promises to reduce government debt, which now equals more than 95% of gross domestic product, the highest since the early 1960s, while not raising taxes on working people.
King Charles III has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Buckingham Palace said.
Starmer was accompanied by his wife, Victoria.
The palace said the king “was graciously pleased to accept” Starmer’s resignation.
Andy Burnham will soon head to the palace to get the king’s assent to become the next prime minister.
Starmer is meeting with King Charles in the Chinese drawing room at Buckingham Palace.
His teenage children are expected to join Starmer and his wife, Victoria.
In his final speech as prime minister, Starmer thanked the British people “for the opportunity to serve.”
“As I now pass the baton to Andy Burnham, I wish him every success,” he said. “He has my full support.”
“For all the focus on individuals, politics will always be a team sport, and the changes we’ve delivered for our country and our party belong to everyone who has fought for them,” Starmer said.
He ended by saying, “I go with good grace, I go with a smile, and I go proud of everything that we have achieved.”
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his wife Marie-France van Heel wave as they arrive at 10 Downing Street in London, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Sir Clive Alderton, Principal Private Secretary to the King and Queen, right, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his wife Marie-France van Heel, as they leave Buckingham Palace in London after an audience with King Charles III, where he was invited to become Prime Minister and form a new government, Monday July 20, 2026. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP)
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his wife Marie-France van Heel arrive at 10 Downing Street in London, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham speaks to staff and media at 10 Downing Street in London, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham speaks to staff and media at 10 Downing Street in London, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his wife Marie-France van Heel wave as they arrive at 10 Downing Street in London, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Britain's King Charles III welcomes Andy Burnham, left, during an audience at Buckingham Palace, London, where he invited the leader of the Labour Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government, Monday July 20, 2026. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP)
Britain's King Charles III welcomes Andy Burnham, during an audience at Buckingham Palace, London, where he invited the leader of the Labour Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government, Monday July 20, 2026. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP)
Britain's King Charles III welcomes Andy Burnham, left, during an audience at Buckingham Palace, London, where he invited the leader of the Labour Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government, Monday July 20, 2026. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP)
Sir Clive Alderton, left, Principal Private Secretary to the King and Queen, left, greets outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria, as he arrives at Buckingham Palace in London, Monday July 20, 2026. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP)
Britain's outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks as he leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Britain's King Charles III welcomes outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer, during an audience at Buckingham Palace in London, Monday July 20, 2026. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP)
Britain's outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks as he leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Britain's outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks as he leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Monday, July 20, 2026..(AP Photo/Thomas Krych)
Britain's outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer hugs Ben Nunn as he leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Britain's outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer receives applause as he leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Britain's outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks as he leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
A protester wears a face mask mocking Andy Burnham outside Downing Street as Labour Party leader Andy Burnham is set to become the U.K.'s new prime minister on Monday, succeeding Keir Starmer in London, Monday, July 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Larry the cat, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, sits on the doorstep to No10 Downing Street as Labour Party leader Andy Burnham is set to become the U.K.'s new prime minister, succeeding Keir Starmer in London, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Workers put up a lectern for the speech of Britain's outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street in London, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Thomas Krych)
The statue of Winston Chruchill is silhouetted against the sky with the backdrop of the Elizabeth Tower, commonly known as Big Ben, as Labour Party leader Andy Burnham is set to become the U.K.'s new prime minister on Monday, succeeding Keir Starmer in London, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Thomas Krych)
Reporters prepare in Downing Street as Labour Party leader Andy Burnham is set to become the U.K.'s new prime minister on Monday, succeeding Keir Starmer in London, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A camera screen shows the No10 door in Downing Street as Labour Party leader Andy Burnham is set to become the U.K.'s new prime minister, succeeding Keir Starmer in London, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Thomas Krych)
Newly confirmed Labour Party leader Andy Burnham speaks with local stakeholders and party supporters during a visit to Gravesend Town Pier, Gravesend , England, Friday July 17, 2026. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)
Newly confirmed Labour Party leader Andy Burnham speaks with local stakeholders and party supporters during a visit to Gravesend Town Pier, Gravesend , England, Friday July 17, 2026. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)
Andy Burnham speaks after being confirmed as the Labour Party's new leader and the country's next prime minister, during 'Labour's Special Conference' in central London, Friday July 17, 2026. (Henry Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP)