Andy Burnham became Britain's 59th Prime Minister on Monday, a long-awaited moment for many supporters who saw him fail twice in Labour leadership contests. In 2010 he came fourth, in 2015 second; now, third time lucky, he ascends from Mayor of Greater Manchester to national leader.
A Different Kind of Politics
Burnham promised to bring a new style to Westminster after a decade as mayor. At a Friday event before his coronation, he joked about factionalism: 'When a Burnhamite walks into a bar – as many Burnhamites are known to do – I want the barman to say, ‘Great to see you, we don’t like factional politics in here.’'
He also took aim at rival parties: 'We won’t try to out-Green the Greens or out-Reform Reform or doing what we’ve done in the past – wearing too many Tory clothes… Let me tell you, I’m quite happy that Kemi doesn’t approve of my wardrobe choices because I’m not keen on theirs either.'
Policy Promises and Emotional Tribute
Between the jokes came a plan to 'fix the big things that politics has neglected, like social care', end 'cover-up culture', and devolve power from Whitehall. He claims this will lead to the biggest change in British politics in 40 years.
In a notable shift from predecessor Keir Starmer's stilted style, Burnham's event was emotionally charged. He thanked Labour grandees Lord Blunkett, Dame Margaret Beckett, and Lord Neil Kinnock, saying: 'Neil Kinnock is the man that fired up a young Andy Burnham in the north-west of England in the mid-1980s with rhetoric of the kind that remains unmatched… I would not be standing here, I would have not have joined this great party of ours in 1985, had it not been for the legend that is Neil Kinnock.'
Many in the audience wiped away tears as he spoke, and he ended with the Anfield anthem line: 'hope in every heart'.
From Coronation Street to Coronation
Burnham’s journey from local mayor to Prime Minister was marked by persistence. He ran for Labour leader in 2010 and 2015, coming fourth and second respectively. Now, as he leaves the stage to New Order's 'True Faith', his supporters celebrate a day they feared might never come.
Deputy Labour Leader Lucy Powell described the event as 'like the last day of term – non-uniform day. But not for you Andy,' she added. Burnham now takes office with a mandate to 'be leader for the north, the south, the east and the west, for Scotland, Wales and for Northern Ireland'.
