Andy Burnham, a 56-year-old Labour MP, is positioning himself as a candidate to replace Keir Starmer as leader of the Labour Party and potentially as Britain's next prime minister. Burnham, who served as Secretary of State for Health under Prime Minister Gordon Brown from 2009 to 2010, has reinvented himself as a northern everyman, often seen in T-shirts rather than suits.
Burnham was born in Liverpool in 1970 and studied at the University of Cambridge. He was first elected as MP for Leigh in 2001, a seat he held until 2017, when he became Mayor of Greater Manchester. He has been a vocal critic of the Conservative government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and has advocated for greater devolution of powers to English regions.
In recent months, Burnham has increased his national profile, speaking at Labour Party events and criticizing Starmer's leadership. However, as of June 2026, no formal leadership challenge has been announced. Burnham has not publicly declared a campaign, but allies suggest he is considering a bid if Starmer's position weakens.
Burnham's political career includes stints as Chief Secretary to the Treasury (2007-2008) and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (2008-2009). He ran for the Labour leadership in 2010 and 2015, finishing second to Ed Miliband in 2010 and third to Jeremy Corbyn in 2015.
