Andy Burnham

Burnham in 2026

Andy Burnham (born 7 January 1970) is a British politician who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party since July 2026. He was previously the Member of Parliament for Leigh from 2001 to 2017, during which period he was Chief Secretary to the Treasury (2007-2008), Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (2008-2009) and Secretary of State for Health (2009-2010). From 2017 to 2026, he served as Mayor of Greater Manchester before returning to the House of Commons following the Makerfield by-election in June 2026.

Quotes

I want Labour solidly to be the party of working class people

• First, a police force which has consistently put protecting itself above protecting people harmed by Hillsborough. Second, collusion between that force and complicit print media. Third, a flawed judicial system that gives the upper hand to those in authority over and above ordinary people. Shamefully, the cover-up continued in this Warrington courtroom. Millions of pounds of public money were spent re-telling discredited lies.
  • Commons silent – and drew a round of applause (27 Apr 2016)

• What we've seen today is a deliberate act of levelling down. I don't believe we can proceed through this pandemic by grinding people down. We need to carry them with us, not crush their spirit.
  • Andy Burnham accuses government of "levelling down" the north and releasing the national lockdown "too early" "King of the North" Speech, Manchester Evening News (25 Sep 2020)

• Long term, I’m going to be honest, I'm going to say it, I want to rejoin it. Look, I hope in my lifetime I see this country rejoin the European Union.
  • Quoted in "Starmer can still survive as PM. Here’s how", iNews (quote from Autumn 2025)

2026

This is now the change moment

• [on seeking permission to stand as an MP in 2026] It brings with it a poison we should not let enter our city-region. I see this by-election as the frontline of that fight for the Manchester Way and feel I owe it to a city which has given me so much to lead it from the front, despite the risks involved. With your permission to stand, I would run a hopeful and unifying campaign with broad appeal to voters, focusing on the positivity around what we have achieved, whilst at the same time being honest about the alienation people feel from politics.
  • Andy Burnham to QUIT as Mayor to stand in bombshell by-election, Mirror (24 Jan 2026)

• I want Labour solidly to be the party of working class people and working class communities and that requires a lot of change.
  • "Burnham says he's running for selection in Makerfield by-election to 'save Labour'", BBC News (16 May 2026)

• My view is Brexit has been damaging, but the last thing we should do is revisit these arguments. I’m not proposing the UK [should] rejoin the EU. I respect the referendum.
  • Quoted in "Starmer can still survive as PM. Here’s how", iNews (19 May 2026)

• We've been on a path for 40 years that simply hasn't worked...this is now the change moment
  • Quoted after his 2026 Makerfield by-election victory in: "'This is the change moment': Andy Burnham holds rally following Makerfield by-election win", Sky News (19 June 2026 )

• Keir has given huge service to our country and I want to thank him for his leadership and dedication during such a challenging period. His decision marks the beginning of a transition and it is important that this process is conducted in an orderly and responsible way. I will put myself forward as part of this process. The country expects stability, seriousness and a continued focus on the issues that matter most and that is what it will get. As we move forward, our priority must be to work together to get the country back to where we all want it to be.
  • Quoted in "Keir Starmer resigns, as Andy Burnham confirms he will run to replace him as Labour leader and PM", BBC News (22 June 2026)

• I am ready...I have a plan.
  • Quoted in "Andy Burnham says he is 'finalising' cabinet ahead of becoming PM on Monday", BBC News (17 July 2026)

• We will change politics, to make it more collaborative, more about problem solving than point-scoring, and will take power out of here and carry it into every postcode in the land, so that they can do more, and in doing more, build a new economy where we put life’s essentials back under stronger public control to make them affordable to you again, reindustrialising Britain using public procurement to back British industry.
  • Quoted in "Burnham pledges to 'carry power to every postcode'", The Herald (20 July 2026)

Quotes about Burnham

• Yesterday Andy Burnham sought such permission from the NEC to stand in the Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election, which would have led to a mayoral by-election in Greater Manchester.

  The NEC has decided not to grant Andy Burnham permission to stand. The NEC believes that causing an unnecessary election for the position of Greater Manchester mayor would have a substantial and disproportionate impact on party campaign resources before the local elections and elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd in May

  Although the party would be confident of retaining the mayoralty, the NEC could not put Labour’s control of Greater Manchester at any risk

  Andy Burnham is doing a great job as mayor of Greater Manchester. We believe it is in the best interests of the party to avoid an unnecessary mayoral election.

  • "Labour Party confirms reason Andy Burnham blocked from standing in by-election", Manchester Evening News (25 January 2026).