Andy Burnham: The 'King of the North' Poised to Become Britain's Next Prime Minister?
In 2024, the Labour Party secured a landslide victory in the general election, ending a 14-year wait to return to power under the leadership of Keir Starmer. However, just two years later, Prime Minister Starmer faced mounting political pressure and announced his resignation on Monday (22 June). Speaking at the Prime Minister’s official residence at 10 Downing Street in London, Starmer stated that his successor would be selected before the parliamentary summer recess ends in September 2026.
Many expect that successor to be Andy Burnham. The popular Mayor of Greater Manchester won a by-election in the Makerfield constituency last week with a significant majority, securing a seat in Parliament. Holding a parliamentary seat is a prerequisite for becoming prime minister.
A long political career
“Everyone can feel that this country is not yet where it should be,” said Burnham, 56, after his victory in Makerfield. Many observers noted that his statement already sounded like a speech from a prime ministerial candidate. “From today, I will give everything I have to make it happen. I want Makerfield to be remembered forever as the place that started the change this country needs, and also as the place that brought back something we have lost: hope. Hope for the future.”
Burnham is known as a moderate left-wing figure within the Labour Party and has decades of experience in both national and regional politics. He was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 2001. During Tony Blair’s premiership, Burnham served as a junior minister in the Home Office. After Gordon Brown succeeded Blair, Burnham held several positions, including roles at the Treasury, the Department for Culture, and as Health Secretary.
Burnham also stood for the Labour Party leadership twice, in 2010 and 2015. In 2017, he left Parliament to become Mayor of Greater Manchester, a region in northern England with a population of 2.8 million. He has since been re-elected twice, with his most recent victory securing nearly two-thirds of the vote. One of Burnham’s most notable achievements as mayor has been expanding access to affordable public transport. Housing provision and healthcare have also been central focuses of his policies.
Burnham is a known critic of Brexit, the UK’s departure from the European Union in 2020. He has also described himself as a supporter of “pro-business socialism”. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Burnham repeatedly clashed with then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, demanding greater financial support from central government for businesses and workers affected by lockdown restrictions. His firm stance, combined with his successful leadership of Manchester, earned him the nickname “King of the North”.
In recent years, Burnham’s main criticism of fellow Labour politician Keir Starmer has focused on welfare budget cuts. However, Burnham has yet to outline in detail the policies he would pursue if elected prime minister.
Working-class roots
Burnham has strong ties to former mining and industrial communities in northern England. He was born in 1970 in Aintree, near Liverpool, and raised in the village of Culcheth. His father worked as a technician, while his mother was a medical assistant. While studying English Literature at the University of Cambridge, Burnham often felt out of place in the prestigious university environment. Inspired by the miners’ strikes of the mid-1980s, he joined the Labour Party at the age of 14.
Burnham is also known as a devoted supporter of Everton Football Club. His wife is Dutch, and they have three children. On his upper right arm, he has a tattoo of a worker bee, a symbol of hard work and solidarity. He is currently one of the most popular politicians in Britain. Many supporters see him as Labour’s best hope, particularly in countering the growing support for the right-wing populist Reform UK party led by Nigel Farage.
Despite this, the position of prime minister has become increasingly unstable since the Brexit referendum in 2016. If Burnham succeeds Starmer, he will become the seventh person to hold the office since the referendum a decade ago. He will also inherit a country still grappling with complex political, economic, and social challenges.