DossierPoliticsUnited KingdomUpdated October 11, 2026

Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, having assumed office on 20 July 2026. He became Leader of the Labour Party in July 2026. Before becoming Prime Minister, he served as Mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 until June 2026. He was first elected as a Member of Parliament for Leigh in June 2001 and held cabinet roles between 2007 and 2010. He returned as MP for Makerfield in June 2026. He was born and raised in northern England and studied English literature at the University of Cambridge.

Country
United Kingdom
Field
Politics
Leaning
Centre-left
Fact checks
5

Political leaning

Far leftCentre-leftFar right
Economic-1.0
State-ledFree market

Why we place them here

  • Burnham is Leader of the Labour Party, a centre-left political party. [1]
  • In his first speech as Prime Minister, Burnham advocated for a new economic model, decentralization of political power, and bringing essential services under public control. [2]
  • The Burnham government implemented cost-of-living policies including VAT removal on electricity, bus fare caps, and business rate relief for hospitality venues. [2]

Fact checks

Record

  • Controversy · October 1, 2026

    Comments on Manchester City financial case

    Burnham said he would be 'really concerned' if Manchester City's Abu Dhabi owners sold the club after it was found guilty of financial breaches by an independent commission. His remarks drew criticism from political figures, including the shadow sports minister who called for the Government to 'keep politics out of football', and were branded 'completely out of touch' by the Conservatives. [3]

Affiliations

  • Labour Party

    The Labour Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom. Burnham became Leader of the Labour Party on 16 July 2026 and is a member. [4]

  • UK Parliament

    The UK Parliament is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom. Burnham was elected Member of Parliament for Leigh in June 2001 and later returned as MP for Makerfield in June 2026. [4]

  • Greater Manchester Combined Authority

    The Greater Manchester Combined Authority is the combined authority for Greater Manchester. Burnham served as Mayor of Greater Manchester from May 2017 until June 2026. [4]

Sources

  1. [1]espn.com
  2. [2]gov.uk
  3. [3]gov.uk
  4. [4]gov.uk
  5. [5]Photo: Prime Minister's Office / Wikimedia Commons, OGL 3

Profiles are compiled from public reporting and updated as new information appears.

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