Who is Andy Burnham?
Andy Burnham was elected Labour MP for Leigh in 2001 and served in Gordon Brown's government as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Culture Secretary and Health Secretary. He stood for the Labour leadership in 2010 and 2015 without success. In 2017 he was elected the first Mayor of Greater Manchester and was re-elected in 2021 and 2024. In June 2026 he won the Makerfield by-election with 54.8% of the vote, Keir Starmer announced days later that he would resign, and Burnham was elected Labour leader unopposed in July with the backing of 379 of Labour's 403 MPs. He became Prime Minister on 20 July 2026. His approach, often called Manchesterism, centres on devolution, public control of services and housing.
Previously: MP for Makerfield (since June 2026) · Mayor of Greater Manchester (2017-2026) · Secretary of State for Health (2009-2010) · MP for Leigh (2001-2017)
Documented positions
- Pledged to repeal the ban on public ownership of water companies and move the sector toward public control over ten years.Source: labour.org.uk
- Announced a publicly owned Great British Grid within Great British Energy and the removal of VAT from household electricity bills.Source: labour.org.uk
- Promised the biggest council house building programme since the post-war era and a reform of Right to Buy so that new council homes stay in public hands.Source: labour.org.uk
- Proposed a National Care Service for England that would be fully funded without borrowing, while committing to keep within the fiscal rules.Source: labour.org.uk
- Committed to a national commission on electoral reform and a manifesto pledge to change the voting system.Source: labour.org.uk
- Opened No10 North in Manchester as a base for devolution and regional growth policy, hosting a revived National Economic Council with mayors.Source: gov.uk
- Has said Brexit did more harm than good and that he will set out options for the EU relationship, from the status quo to rejoining, while not seeking a new referendum yet.Source: euronews.com
- Pledged to meet NATO obligations, stay steadfast in support for Ukraine and pursue a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.Source: labour.org.uk
Record
As mayor, Burnham brought Greater Manchester's buses back under public control through franchising, and in 2020 he publicly opposed the national government's terms for placing the region under Tier 3 Covid restrictions. As Prime Minister his early announcements included £340 million to tackle long-term rough sleeping and a £2 single bus fare cap across England from January 2027. At the September 2026 Labour conference he said the pensions triple lock would stay unchanged for this Parliament but change from April 2030, with the savings going to care.
Supporters cite his devolution record and his focus on housing, transport and public ownership. Critics, including opposition parties, have questioned the cost of his plans and his openness to rejoining the EU, and Scottish First Minister John Swinney called the triple lock change unacceptable.
In their words
“We will take power out of here and carry it into every postcode in the land so that they can do more.”
