Ministerial offices

Secretary of State for Health
In office 5 June 2009 – 11 May 2010
Preceded by	Alan Johnson
Succeeded by	Andrew Lansley
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
In office 24 January 2008 – 5 June 2009
Preceded by	James Purnell
Succeeded by	Ben Bradshaw
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
In office 28 June 2007 – 24 January 2008
Chancellor	Alistair Darling
Preceded by	Stephen Timms
Succeeded by	Yvette Cooper
Minister of State for Health
In office 5 May 2006 – 28 June 2007
Preceded by	Jane Kennedy
Succeeded by	Ben Bradshaw
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs
In office 9 May 2005 – 5 May 2006
Preceded by	Caroline Flint
Succeeded by	Joan Ryan

Shadow Cabinet posts

Shadow Home Secretary
In office 13 September 2015 – 6 October 2016
Leader	Jeremy Corbyn
Preceded by	Yvette Cooper
Succeeded by	Diane Abbott
Shadow Secretary of State for Health
In office 7 October 2011 – 13 September 2015
Leader	Ed Miliband Harriet Harman (acting)
Preceded by	John Healey
Succeeded by	Heidi Alexander
In office 11 May 2010 – 8 October 2010
Leader	Harriet Harman (acting) Ed Miliband
Preceded by	Andrew Lansley
Succeeded by	John Healey
Shadow Secretary of State for Education
In office 8 October 2010 – 7 October 2011
Leader	Ed Miliband
Preceded by	Ed Balls
Succeeded by	Stephen Twigg

Member of Parliament

Incumbent

Assumed office
18 June 2026

Preceded by

Josh Simons

Constituency

Makerfield

Majority

9,231 (20.3%)

In office
7 June 2001 – 3 May 2017

Preceded by

Lawrence Cunliffe

Succeeded by

Jo Platt

Constituency

Leigh

Personal details

Born

Andrew Murray Burnham

7 January 1970 (age 56)
Aintree, Lancashire, England

Political party

Labour Co-op

Spouse

Marie-France van Heel

(m. 2000)

Children

Education

Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge (MA)

Signature

Website

andyburnham.org.uk

Andrew Murray Burnham (born 7 January 1970) is a British politician. He became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party in July 2026. Before this, he was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Makerfield from June 2026. He also served as the Mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 to 2026.

From 2001 to 2017, he was the MP for Leigh. During that time, he held important government jobs. These included Secretary of State for Health from 2009 to 2010 in Gordon Brown's government. Burnham is a member of the Labour and Co-operative Party. He believes in socialist ideas and focuses on local communities. His political approach has been called "Manchesterism".

Burnham grew up in Culcheth, a town between Liverpool and Manchester. He joined the Labour Party when he was 15 years old. He studied English at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. In his early career, he worked as a researcher and special adviser for government ministers.

As Mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham made big changes to the city's transport. He created the Bee Network for trams and buses. He was also known for supporting Northern communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was re-elected as mayor in 2021 and 2024.

In 2026, after a period of change in the Labour Party, Burnham returned to Parliament. He won a special election in Makerfield. Soon after, he was elected as the leader of the Labour Party. On 20 July 2026, he became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Early Life and Education
Early Career
Important Roles in Government
Working in Opposition
Leading Greater Manchester
Return to Parliament (2026)
Premiership (2026–present)
His Ideas and Beliefs
Personal Life and Interests
See also

Early Life and Education

Template:Andy Burnham sidebar Andrew Murray Burnham was born on 7 January 1970 in Aintree, Lancashire, near Liverpool. His father, Kenneth Roy Burnham, was a telephone engineer. His mother, Eileen Mary Burnham, worked as a doctor's receptionist. He grew up in Culcheth and went to St Lewis Catholic Primary School. He also attended St Aelred's Roman Catholic High School. He joined the Labour Party when he was 15.

Burnham studied English at the University of Cambridge. He was a student at Fitzwilliam College. He earned a Master of Arts degree. Burnham has said that his Catholic upbringing influenced his political beliefs.

Early Career

After university, Burnham moved to London. He worked as a journalist for a private company for a few years. From 1994 to 1997, he was a researcher for politician Tessa Jowell. After the 1997 election, he worked for the NHS Confederation. He then became a special adviser to Culture Secretary Chris Smith in 1998. He held this role until he was elected to Parliament.

In the 2001 election, Burnham was elected as the MP for Leigh. This area is in Greater Manchester. He served on the Health Select Committee from 2001 to 2003. He then became a special assistant to the Home Secretary and later to the Secretary of State for Education.

Important Roles in Government

Official portrait as Health Secretary, 2009

After the 2005 election, Burnham was promoted. He served in Tony Blair's government. He was a junior minister responsible for identity cards. In 2006, he moved to the Department of Health.

When Gordon Brown became Prime Minister in 2007, Burnham was appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury. He helped create the government's spending plans. In 2008, he became Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. In this role, he helped start the Hillsborough Independent Panel. This panel investigated the Hillsborough disaster.

Burnham as Health Secretary, speaking at an event during the Labour Party Conference in 2009

In June 2009, Burnham was promoted again. He became Secretary of State for Health. He held this job until the Labour government left office in 2010. As Health Secretary, he launched an inquiry into high death rates at Stafford Hospital. He also proposed creating a National Care Service. This service would provide publicly funded social care, similar to the National Health Service. The first part of this plan began in 2010. However, the new government after 2010 stopped the full plan.

Working in Opposition

After Labour lost power in 2010, Burnham served in the shadow cabinet. He worked for Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn. He held several important roles from 2010 to 2016. These included Shadow Education Secretary and Shadow Health Secretary. He also served as Shadow Home Secretary.

Burnham ran for the leadership of the Labour Party twice. He ran in 2010 and again in 2015. He did not win either time.

Burnham giving his final Shadow Home Secretary speech at the party conference in 2016

In 2016, after the verdict of the Hillsborough disaster inquest, Burnham gave a powerful speech in Parliament. He called for those responsible to be held accountable. In 2017, he also spoke out about the infected blood scandal. He presented evidence and called for an investigation. Later that year, an independent public inquiry was announced. The inquiry's final report in 2024 found serious failures and cover-ups.

Leading Greater Manchester

Burnham campaigning for mayor in 2016

In 2016, Burnham decided to run for the new role of Mayor of Greater Manchester. He was selected as the Labour candidate. He won the mayoral election on 5 May 2017. He received a large majority of the votes. In his victory speech, he said it was a "new era" for the region. He promised to make politics work better for people outside London.

Burnham was re-elected as mayor in 2021 and 2024. When he left the role, he had a high approval rating. He was praised for his work on economic development and tackling homelessness.

Homelessness and Housing Initiatives

Burnham (right) visiting construction of Mayfield Park with Bev Craig and Michael Gove in 2022

A key focus for Burnham as mayor was addressing homelessness in Greater Manchester. He pledged to donate part of his mayoral salary to charities helping homeless people. He also set up a "homelessness fund". He aimed to end rough sleeping in the region.

Burnham supported building more homes, especially high-rise buildings in Manchester's city centre. He believed this helped the city's economy grow.

Improving Public Transport

Bee Network bus in 2023

Burnham worked to bring Manchester's bus network back under public control. This plan faced legal challenges but was successful. In 2023, the integrated transport Bee Network was launched. This system aimed to make public transport in Greater Manchester more connected and affordable.

Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Burnham called for clear guidance. He used his past experience as Health Secretary. He became known as the "King of the North" for fighting for more government support for Northern communities. He wanted to protect businesses and jobs during the lockdowns.

Greater Manchester Baccalaureate

Burnham also worked on a plan called the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate, or MBacc. This scheme aims to give young people in Manchester an alternative to university. It focuses on providing skills needed by local businesses. The goal is for it to be fully ready by 2030.

National Recognition and Resignation

Burnham's popularity in Greater Manchester grew. Many people saw him as a possible future leader of the Labour Party. He was often mentioned as a potential successor to then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

In June 2026, Burnham won a special election to become the MP for Makerfield. This meant he had to resign as Mayor of Greater Manchester on 19 June 2026. Paul Dennett, the Mayor of Salford, served as acting mayor until a new election could be held.

Return to Parliament (2026)

A "Vote Andy For Us" campaign poster

On 14 May 2026, the MP for Makerfield, Josh Simons, resigned. This created a special election, known as a by-election. Burnham decided to stand as the Labour candidate. He wanted to return to Parliament and potentially challenge for the party leadership.

Burnham's campaign focused on trust in politics and economic growth for local areas. He promised to build more homes and create "youth zones" to help young people. His campaign slogan was "Andy — For Us". He won the by-election on 18 June 2026. This victory allowed him to return to the House of Commons.

In his victory speech, Burnham called for a "Makerfield test" in national politics. This meant that new policies should be judged by how well they help regional communities. He said the result was a turning point for British politics.

After the by-election, Keir Starmer announced he would step down as Prime Minister and Labour leader. Burnham then announced he would run for the leadership. He quickly gained strong support from many Labour MPs.

Burnham being received by Charles III at Buckingham Palace to be invited to form a government, in 2026

On 29 June, Burnham gave a major speech in Manchester. He proposed creating a "No. 10 North". This would be a new government centre in Manchester. He said it would help rebalance power in the country. He planned to live in Manchester and work from No. 10 North at least one day a week if he became Prime Minister.

Burnham was the only candidate nominated for the Labour leadership. He was elected unopposed on 17 July 2026.

Premiership (2026–present)

Burnham giving his first speech as Prime Minister

On 20 July 2026, King Charles III invited Andy Burnham to form a new government. Burnham officially became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He began announcing the members of his cabinet later that day.

His Ideas and Beliefs

Burnham (left) with then Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf, 2023

Burnham joined the Labour Party at age 15 and identifies as a socialist. He believes in "aspirational socialism," which focuses on sharing wealth and working together. He is against nationalism. He has said that Neil Kinnock is an inspiration to him.

Manchesterism: A Local Approach

Burnham (right) with Scottish First Minister John Swinney and Mayor of Liverpool Steve Rotheram, 2024

Burnham uses the term "Manchesterism" to describe his political ideas as mayor. It means combining economic growth with social benefits. He wants to make sure that growth helps everyone in the community. Examples include public control of buses and local investment funds. He believes this approach is possible through devolving power to local areas.

Economic Policies

Burnham supports bringing essential services like railways, energy, water, and housing under "stronger public control." He has also suggested replacing university tuition fees with a universal graduate tax. He advocates for a National Care Service to integrate care services with the National Health Service. He also wants to extend the higher minimum wage to younger workers and ban zero-hour contracts.

Devolving Power

Burnham strongly supports giving more power to local regions. He has often criticized the "Westminster Bubble," which is the idea that British politics focuses too much on London. He believes that giving more power to places like Greater Manchester helps with urban regeneration. He also wants more investment in the North of England. He proposed establishing a "No. 10 North" in Manchester to help achieve this.

Head North

In 2024, Burnham co-wrote a book called Head North: A Rallying Cry for a More Equal Britain. He wrote it with Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram. The book talks about bringing hope to the northern regions of the UK.

Personal Life and Interests

Burnham married Marie-France van Heel in 2000. They have three children: a son named Jimmy and two daughters, Rosie and Anne-Marie. He was raised Catholic.

Burnham identifies primarily as British. He also feels a strong connection to North West England and Liverpool. He is a fan of indie music.

Burnham is a big supporter of rugby league. He was the honorary chairman of Leigh Centurions for a short time. He is also a lifelong fan of the Premier League football club Everton. He played football for his college and even played in a friendly match for Leigh RMI against Everton in 2003. He has run several marathons and races.

Andy Burnham facts for kids

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