LONDON, June 23 — Andy Burnham’s likely ascent to the pinnacle of British politics reflects an aptitude as a politician, orator and organiser that many members of Parliament found lacking in the job’s current occupant, Keir Starmer. Burnham, 56, a Labour politician and former mayor of Greater Manchester, appears set to succeed Starmer as prime minister after the incumbent announced his resignation on June 22.
The mechanics here are straightforward: Burnham’s experience as a minister under then-Prime Minister Tony Blair, and his subsequent role as health secretary under Gordon Brown, have given him a strong foundation in British politics. But the catch is that his previous support for the Iraq invasion has hampered his bid for party leadership in the past.
Burnham sought the party leadership twice, but came in a distant second to Jeremy Corbyn in 2015, and he stepped down from Parliament in 2017. He went on to reinvent himself as a champion of England’s northern, working-class population in more than two terms as the mayor of Greater Manchester. This background could serve him well in his potential role as prime minister, as the country is weighed down by economic malaise that will now have had five prime ministers in four years.
Burnham’s ability to connect with working-class voters could be a key factor in his success. Burnham was born in the Liverpool area to a father who was a telephone engineer and a mother who worked as a receptionist.
He joined the Labour Party at the age of 15. Burnham studied English at the University of Cambridge, and after graduating he followed a path well-worn by British politicians, working as a researcher in Parliament. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 2001 and was an adviser and then a minister under then-Prime Minister Tony Blair, voting for the 2003 British military intervention in Iraq alongside the US.
But what could Burnham actually do to change the trajectory of a country weighed down by economic malaise that will now have had five prime ministers in four years? The answer lies in his ability to connect with voters and his experience in government. Burnham’s most senior role came as health secretary under Gordon Brown, and he subsequently became one of the few top Blair-era officials to work with Jeremy Corbyn, the hard-left leader who has since been ousted from the Labour Party.
As the situation unfolds, it will be important to watch how Burnham navigates the complexities of British politics and whether he can deliver on his promises to working-class voters. Several people will be watching his next moves closely, eager to see if he can bring stability to a country in turmoil.
