Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, is poised to become the next UK prime minister following Keir Starmer's announcement that he intends to resign once a successor is chosen. Burnham, 56, has spent the last nine years as mayor and is seen as a figure who can reconnect with voters outside London and those who feel disenfranchised.
The turning point at Anfield
Burnham often cites a pivotal moment in 2009 when he was booed at Anfield, Liverpool's stadium, during the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, which killed 97 Liverpool fans. As culture secretary under Prime Minister Gordon Brown, he offered condolences but was met with angry calls for justice. Footage shows Burnham rattled and close to tears. He later said, "My journey away from Westminster began at Anfield that day. It was the turning point in my life. To be honest, I fell out of love with it."
Political rise and mayoral success
Born in Aintree, Liverpool, Burnham grew up in Culchest, Cheshire, where his father was a phone engineer and his mother a doctor's receptionist. He joined the Labour Party at 14 after being inspired by the BBC drama Boys from the Blackstuff. He studied English at Cambridge University and later worked as a researcher for Labour MP Tessa Jowell. Elected as MP for Leigh in 2001, he served under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, holding roles including chief secretary to the Treasury, culture secretary, and health secretary.
Burnham ran for Labour leadership in 2010 with an "aspirational socialism" pitch but placed fourth. He ran again in 2015 with a centrist, business-friendly platform, launching at Ernst & Young headquarters, but lost to Jeremy Corbyn. Unlike many, he accepted a shadow cabinet role under Corbyn as home affairs spokesperson and did not resign after the Brexit vote. He left in 2017 to become the first mayor of Greater Manchester, winning with over 60% of the vote and re-elected by a larger margin in 2021.
Pandemic battles and transport reform
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Burnham gained popularity by challenging Boris Johnson's government over tier 3 restrictions for Greater Manchester, threatening legal action. His critics call him "Captain Flip-flop" for shifting politics, but supporters see a leader who listens. As mayor, he brought buses under public control, transforming the region's transport system, and earned the nickname "king of the north" for championing the area's economic performance.
Path to prime minister
Burnham's promise of a "turning point" for the country resonates with Labour as a strategy to win back votes from Nigel Farage's Reform UK and the Greens. He positions himself as a man of the people, offering a politics that understands those outside London. According to Burnham, his journey from Westminster began at Anfield, and now he is on the brink of leading the nation.
