LONDON – Andy Burnham has moved into a strong position to become the next leader of the Labour Party following the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer as both party leader and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
The former Greater Manchester mayor, who recently returned to Parliament, has confirmed his intention to enter the Labour leadership race. His campaign has already received backing from several Labour MPs, including Wes Streeting, who served as health secretary under Starmer’s government.
Burnham’s momentum was boosted by a decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election, where he secured a comfortable win over Reform UK. The second-placed party finished more than 9,000 votes behind Labour, strengthening Burnham’s credentials as a national political figure.
The result also marked a significant improvement in Labour’s local support. The party increased its vote share in Makerfield from approximately 45 percent at the 2024 general election to nearly 55 percent in the by-election.
Burnham is due to be sworn in as a Member of Parliament on Monday afternoon, further reinforcing his status as one of the frontrunners in the contest to replace Starmer.
His rise to prominence has been shaped by decades of political involvement that began long before his name was linked to the country’s highest office.
Born in Liverpool in 1970, Burnham spent his childhood in Culcheth, a village in Cheshire near Warrington. Politics was a familiar part of family life. His father worked as an engineer for a British telecommunications company, while his mother was employed as a receptionist at a general practitioner’s surgery. Both were loyal Labour supporters.
Burnham has previously said that his interest in politics was sparked at the age of 14 after watching the BBC drama Boys from the Blackstuff, a series depicting the struggles of unemployed people in Liverpool.
Outside politics, he developed a passion for football and remains a dedicated supporter of Everton. Former classmates have described him as highly competitive and enthusiastic about sports during his school years.
Signs of his political ambitions emerged early. According to his former English teacher at a local Catholic secondary school, Burnham stood as a Labour candidate in a mock school election and won by a wide margin.
His enthusiasm for football continued into adulthood. Burnham became a regular participant in the annual football match between Labour MPs and political journalists.
Alongside his two brothers, he was the first member of his family to attend university. He later studied English at the University of Cambridge.
In his memoir Head North, Burnham reflected on feeling out of place during his time at Cambridge. He wrote that he often struggled with self-doubt and questioned whether he truly belonged in the academic environment.
Music played an important role in helping him find confidence. A fan of Manchester indie bands such as The Smiths and The Stone Roses, Burnham wrote that his growing appreciation for the city’s music scene gave him both a sense of identity and confidence.
After graduating, he began his professional career in journalism, working for trade publications including Tank World and Passenger World Management.
His first major step into politics came in his early twenties when he joined the office of the late Tessa Jowell as a researcher. Jowell later served as a minister in the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
Burnham’s political career advanced rapidly from there. Despite previously expressing reservations about the culture of Westminster politics, he steadily climbed through Labour’s ranks. He served as a special adviser to Culture Secretary Chris Smith before winning election as MP for Leigh, in Greater Manchester, in 2001.
After two unsuccessful attempts to become Labour leader, Burnham now finds himself closer than ever to achieving the role that has long eluded him. With growing support among Labour lawmakers and a recent electoral victory behind him, he has emerged as one of the most prominent figures in the race to lead both the party and potentially the country. (Zefferi)
