Andy Burnham is poised to become Prime Minister within weeks after Sir Keir Starmer resigned following Burnham's landslide victory in the Makerfield by-election. The former Mayor of Greater Manchester defeated the Reform UK candidate by over 9,000 votes, demonstrating his ability to take on Nigel Farage and win. Starmer, who had previously said he would remain leader, reversed his stance and stepped down this morning.
Burnham's Background and Rise
Burnham was born in Aintree, Lancashire, to a telephone engineer father and a receptionist mother. The family moved to Culcheth, near Warrington, where he grew up. He attended a Catholic school before studying English at the University of Cambridge. Though he describes himself as 'Catholic by upbringing' and not 'particularly religious,' the Church has influenced his politics.
He joined the Labour Party at age 15 and worked as a researcher, a union officer for the Transport and General Workers Union, and a parliamentary officer for the NHS Confederation. He became a special adviser to Culture Secretary Chris Smith before being elected MP for Leigh in 2001. He held various ministerial roles under Gordon Brown, including Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Culture Secretary, and Health Secretary.
Previous Leadership Bids
Burnham's first leadership attempt in 2010 ended in a second-round defeat to Ed Miliband. In 2015, he entered as the favourite but lost to Jeremy Corbyn after several gaffes, including saying Labour should get a woman leader 'when the time is right.' This time, his main rival Wes Streeting has already endorsed him.
Record as Greater Manchester Mayor
Burnham has served as Mayor since 2017, focusing on homelessness, public transport, and child exploitation. He clashed with the Conservative government over Covid funding, earning the nickname 'King of the North' from fellow mayor Jamie Driscoll. However, he faced criticism for spending tens of millions on a scrapped Clean Air Zone scheme.
What Burnham's Premiership Could Look Like
Burnham advocates 'Manchesterism,' a blend of policies including tax cuts for lower earners and higher taxes for the wealthy. He proposes borrowing £40bn to build council houses and increasing council tax on expensive homes in London and the South-East. He supports public ownership of housing, water, energy, and railways, and has already brought buses under public control in Manchester, capping fares at £2.
On foreign policy, Burnham has been cautious. When asked about Israel's actions in Gaza, he said he could not judge from his position as mayor but expressed concerns about 'the disproportionate nature' of the destruction and called for investigation and accountability. He praised Starmer's approach to Donald Trump, emphasizing the importance of the US-UK relationship without 'going along with anything they say.'
With Starmer's resignation and Burnham's overwhelming by-election victory, the Labour Party is set for a swift leadership transition. Burnham's experience and popularity suggest he could reshape the government's direction, focusing on public ownership, regional investment, and a more assertive foreign policy.
