Andy Burnham has officially become Prime Minister, moving from Manchester to Downing Street, and the internet is swooning. The Greater Manchester Mayor, known as the 'King of the North,' has sparked a wave of admiration that goes beyond politics. Social media is flooded with fan edits, many set to Oasis hits, and users declaring their attraction to the 56-year-old Labour leader.
The 'Manchester Mogger' Takes Over TikTok
On TikTok, Burnham has been dubbed the 'Manchester Mogger,' a slang term for being stoic and physically attractive. One account, @baledfx, posted a compilation set to Lana Del Rey's 'Ultraviolence,' while another, @leftinista, declared 'andy burnham is BRAT,' referencing Charli XCX's album. The hashtag #andyburnham has garnered millions of views, with users like @blairite captioning a video: 'look at those eyes .. #andyburnham #ukpolitics.'
This isn't Burnham's first brush with online fandom. During the 2020 lockdown, when he challenged the Conservative government, Twitter users expressed confusion over their attraction, with one tweet in October 2020 reading: 'Do I fancy Andy Burnham now or am I just having a breakdown?'
A History of Political Crushes
The phenomenon echoes the #Milifandom of 2015, when Ed Miliband attracted a young internet following. More recently, Keir Starmer received similar treatment after his 2024 election, with Metro noting his resemblance to Mark Darcy from Bridget Jones. Former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani have also been subjects of viral thirst posts.
Why People Are Falling for 'Fit' Andy Burnham
According to Georgina Sturmer, a BACP-accredited psychotherapist, the lusty obsession stems from parasocial relationships. 'These might be politicians, musicians, film stars or other people in the public eye,' she told Metro. 'While elements of these relationships are based on reality, they are often amplified by the assumptions and characteristics that we project onto these people.'
Sturmer adds that power plays a role: 'It's natural that we might find the idea of a powerful person to be an attractive one. If we consider someone else to be powerful, then there's an implicit suggestion that they might be able to protect us and keep us secure.'
Eloise Skinner, a psychotherapist, points to evolution: 'We might be drawn to leaders of a group, or those who represent status and belonging. We can also be attracted to characteristics that traditionally accompany those in power: competence, ability, resilience, drive, and self-confidence.'
Shared Values and Hope for Change
Shared values also matter. A 2021 YouGov survey found more than half of Labour-voting women (53%) wouldn't date someone who didn't share their political views. Remain voters were also less likely to date a Leave voter. Burnham, as a change candidate, embodies hope. Skinner concludes: 'There can be a sense of attraction towards those who represent a new beginning, which can be mixed up with a feeling of hope or optimism about what this person could bring.'
