Who is Andy Burnham? The man tipped to become UK’s next Prime Minister after Starmer resignation

Following Keir Starmer’s announcement that he is resigning as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Labour leader on Monday, 22 June 2026, Britain’s Labour Party has been plunged into a leadership vacuum, with veteran politician Andy Burnham now emerging as the frontrunner to take over as both party leader and potential Prime Minister.

The resignation came at a moment of mounting political pressure, with Labour grappling with internal divisions, economic concerns, and declining polling performance against Reform UK.

Within hours of Starmer’s announcement, attention shifted to potential successors, with Burnham quickly rising as the most prominent name in the race.

Rise of Burnham

Andrew Murray Burnham, born on 7 January 1970 in Liverpool, has built a long political career within the Labour Party, earning a reputation as a plain-speaking, working-class advocate for northern England.

A long-serving Labour figure, Burnham has built his political identity on plain-speaking advocacy for northern England, earning him the nickname the “King of the North.”

He served as Member of Parliament for Leigh from 2001 to 2017, rising through the ranks under former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

During his Westminster career, he held senior cabinet roles including Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and Health Secretary.

Despite two unsuccessful leadership bids in 2010 and 2015, Burnham remained a prominent voice within Labour before stepping away from Parliament in 2017.

Mayor of Manchester

His political reinvention came as the first Mayor of Greater Manchester, a role that significantly raised his national profile.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Burnham became a vocal defender of northern England, often clashing with Westminster over funding and restrictions.

His leadership style, direct, accessible, and regionally focused, strengthened his popularity across the North.

He also pushed major initiatives on transport integration, housing development, and regional devolution, cementing his influence beyond party politics.

Return to Westminster

Burnham made a dramatic return to national politics on 18 June 2026, winning the Makerfield by-election with 54.8 per cent of the vote.

The victory restored his parliamentary presence and immediately fuelled speculation about a leadership challenge within Labour.

Leadership race

Burnham has already secured early backing from senior Labour figures, including former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who stepped aside and endorsed him.

His leadership pitch centres on rebuilding Labour’s connection with working-class voters, particularly in the North and Midlands, while pushing for stronger regional devolution and increased infrastructure investment.

At 56, Burnham enters the contest as one of Labour’s most experienced and recognisable figures. Supporters describe him as a unifying presence capable of restoring public trust after a turbulent political period.