Andy Burnham’s Westminster comeback was anything but reverential as MPs heckled the “King of the North” with cries of “he’s not the Messiah” while he was sworn in. His supporters and critics alike made their voices heard as he walked into the Commons. Opposition MPs shouted “Rome is saved”, “he’s not the Messiah” and “water into wine” as the self-styled “King of the North” was inaugurated into the House of Commons.
Heckling and Response
In a clip, Mr Burnham can be seen approaching the Speaker to take the oath - becoming an MP for the second time in his life. He was met with loud cheers from Labour backbenchers, but there were also pointed, tongue-in-cheek jeers from across the chamber. One MP is heard quipping: “Rome is saved.” Another adds: “He’s not the messiah.” Mr Burnham then appears to respond directly to the heckling, turning and saying: “Naughty boy.”
Potential Prime Minister
The scenes come as Mr Burnham is being talked about as a potential Prime Minister within weeks following his swearing-in, the Sun reported. The former Mayor of Manchester avoided being drawn on the prospect of a general election earlier in the day as he arrived in the capital. Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer resigned this morning, reportedly fighting back tears.
Mr Burnham was met by a media scrum at London Euston Station before leaving by taxi for Westminster, where he was sworn in alongside two other MPs, as per the Sun. On arriving in London, Mr Burnham was questioned about comments he made when Rishi Sunak entered No10 after Liz Truss, when he called for a general election. However, he played down the significance of those remarks, saying it would be “jumping several hurdles” to start thinking about another vote now.
Labour Leadership
Nominations for the Labour leadership are due to open on July 9, according to the Sun. If no challenger emerges, Mr Burnham could enter Number 10 as early as July 17 or 18 - and so far, he is the only candidate to have put his name forward.
Background
Burnham’s background is rooted in a stable working-class to lower-middle-class upbringing. Born in Liverpool in 1970, his father worked as a telecoms/Post Office engineer and his mother was a GP receptionist. The family later moved to Culcheth, a village in Cheshire, after his father received a promotion. Burnham has spoken about how they could not afford foreign holidays. He attended local Roman Catholic comprehensive schools and became the first in his family to go to university, going on to graduate in English from Cambridge.
