Andy is the King of All This Land

On Monday, Burnham was appointed as the United Kingdom’s 59th prime minister. He’s the first Catholic prime minister, the first born in the North of England since Harold Wilson and the first to represent the Co-operative party. 

On his desk, a mountain of challenges. How will Burnham lower the cost of living? Reverse decades of stagnating productivity and living standards? Manage a tumultuous relationship with the White House during the Iran War? His new job will demand vast amounts of decisiveness, courage, and resilience, whilst subject to the greatest volume of scrutiny in the land. 

Politically, who will Burnham appoint to his cabinet? Crucially, how will he defeat Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, leading the opinion polls with a 25% of the vote, after gaining control of nearly 1,500 council seats and 14 councils in May?

Previously, Burnham served as Member of Parliament for Leigh, government minister and Mayor of Greater Manchester. During his political career, he has worn a plethora of ideologies- from ardent Blairite to Brownite to Corbynite. After two attempts at the Labour leadership in 2010 and 2015, Burnham left Westminster to govern Manchester, a job in which he earned the title “King of the North.” As discontent sparked over the leadership of prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, Labour MPs viewed Burnham as a possible successor. 

Scandals encroached on other potential candidates- tax affairs for Angela Rayner and a relationship with Peter Mandelson for Wes Streeting- making them less electorally permissible. Even so, Burnham lacked the golden ticket required to run for Leader of the Labour Party- a seat in the House of Commons. In January, Burnham was rejected by Labour’s NEC to run in a by-election, citing concerns over the cost of a by-election for the Manchester mayoralty. In reality Starmer’s allies on the committee knew Burnham posed a significant threat to his rule.

After a dismal performance by the Labour Party at May’s local elections, MP for Makerfield Josh Simons resigned, triggering a by-election. Burnham returned to Parliament as Simons’s successor on 18 June. 

In this article, I’ll cover how Burnham soared from Mayor of Greater Manchester to prime minister and what he hopes to achieve in Downing Street. 

Makerfield

Following a disastrous performance by the Labour Party at May’s local elections, in which they ended over a century of domination in Welsh politics; failed to win Holyrood when they were destined to two years prior; and lost over 1,000 councillors in their heartlands, Sir Keir Starmer’s government was in crisis. Around 111 Labour MPs signed a letter urging his resignation. 4 cabinet ministers, including Jess Phillips and Miatta Fahnbulleh, resigned. Numerous parliamentary private secretaries (PPS) resigned. 

A speech Starmer delivered, which attempted to save his premiership, had the reverse effect. 

On 14 May, Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned. 

Hours later, Josh Simons resigned as Member of Parliament for Makerfield so Burnham could replace him. The working class former coal towns of Ashton-in-Makerfield, Hindley and rural areas, which lay on the western edge of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, composed the constituency of Makerfield. The move was a risk. Reform UK swept local council elections one week prior, where they won 24 of 25 contested seats on Wigan Council and 50% of the vote in Makerfield. 

“I am standing aside so that Andy Burnham can return to his home, fight to re-enter Parliament, and if elected, drive the change our country is crying out for,” Simons wrote in a statement announcing his resignation from Parliament. 

The next day, Labour’s NEC approved Burnham’s candidacy. January’s concerns over the cost of a subsequent Manchester mayoral by-election were dismissed. This reflected Starmer’s loss of political capital as a result of May’s local elections. On 19 May, Burnham was confirmed as Labour’s candidate.

Reform selected local plumber Robert Kenyon as their candidate in the by-election. Throughout the campaign, Kenyon was criticised for a series of misogynistic remarks. The Independent identified Kenyon had posted that women can’t “ref, drive or give directions”, that women presenting rugby games on TV “aren’t up to the job and only there to tick a box” and that he had declared: “I’m sexist, sorry but I am.”

Meanwhile critics viewed Burnham as using Makerfield as a springboard for winning the Labour leadership. He did not live in the constituency, and the products of immense growth in Manchester hadn’t borne fruit in Makerfield. Burnham refuted this criticism by claiming that he previously represented parts of the constituency when he was MP for Leigh and that his children were educated at local schools. 

Ultimately Burnham won the Makerfield by-election on 18 June. He won nearly 25,000 votes, or 55% of the vote, increasing Labour’s vote share. Kenyon won 35% of the vote. A surprising result for Restore Britain, a far-right party led by Rupert Lowe who splintered from Reform UK, meant they performed in third place with 6.8% of the vote. 

Leadership contest

In an appearance on the BBC’s Question Time during the Makerfield by-election campaign, on 4 June, Burnham declared that if he were elected MP for Makerfield, then he would join a Labour leadership election. This confirmed his intentions to become prime minister.  Following his victory at the Makerfield by-election, those intentions became reality. Burnham arrived in London on 22 June, hours after Starmer announced his resignation following a weekend of deliberation at Chequers with his family, where he was treated as royalty. 

The King awaited coronation. His chariot, a delayed Avanti West Coast train, was paralleled by helicopters from BBC and Sky News. “Rome is saved,” Conservative MP Desmond Swayne declared when Burnham was sworn in as MP for Makerfield by clerks. “He's not the messiah,” bellowed another, to which Burnham replied “Naughty boy.” Upon arrival, 200 of Burnham’s courtiers, Labour MPs, gathered in Westminster Hall to take a selfie.

In the crowd, numerous hallmarks of the Starmer government, including Rachel Reeves, Ed Miliband and Jonathan Reynolds. Just hours after applauding Starmer’s tears, they wore smiles. The speed at which Starmer allies shifted reflects the disloyalty of many MPs. “When the herd moves, it moves,” Boris Johnson rightfully declared. 

Murmurs swirled over who else could join the leadership election. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Darren Jones soon declined, whilst former Armed Forces minister contemplated the decision, proposing 5 tests for a successful government, before ultimately declining. By 15 July, Burnham was nominated by 379 Labour MPs, or over 90% of the Parliamentary Labour Party, He was also nominated by 23 groups affiliated with Labour, electing him Leader of the Labour Party on 17 July. 

Governing

After accepting the King’s invitation to form a government on 20 July at Buckingham Palace, Burnham was driven to Downing Street. Unusually, Burnham refused to use a podium for his inaugural address to the public. This illustrates Burnham’s aim to reduce barriers between the public and politicians. In the speech, Burnham described his appointment as a "circuit breaker for Britain,” promising to introduce a new political and economic model. 

Typically a prime minister’s inaugural address is unifying but policy-sparse- he will thank the previous leader and offer encouraging words to Britain. Burnham’s speech was an exception. He pledged to change the education system; build more council homes; honour commitments on defence, whilst meeting the fiscal rules. Later in the year he promises to produce a 10-year plan for Britain. 

Burnham pledged to end rough sleeping in his first act as prime minister whilst on the steps of Downing Street. This echoes a pledge he made as Mayor of Greater Manchester. He failed to achieve the policy- the number of rough sleepers in Manchester fell from 268 in 2017 to 89, before climbing back up to 197 in 2026. With the powers of the central government, Burnham hopes to defy his own record, although limited resources have been committed.

In one of his only major speeches prior to entering government, Burnham declared his proposal to establish Number 10 North. This means some functions of the Prime Minister’s Office will move from Westminster to Manchester. Burnham described it as “the nerve centre of a rewired Britain.” Burnham hopes to delegate the UK government’s powers to local government, spearheading Greater Manchester’s golden age as a reason for devolution. Results have been mixed. Scotland and Wales have received the greatest powers, but lag behind their English peers. 

Burnham’s rise to Prime Minister, and the policy he hopes to accomplish in the job, reflect the localisation of British politics. He is the second prime minister in recent years to have served, and risen, as a mayor- following Boris Johnson. Prior to 2000, British mayors had bells. Now they have budgets. And real national influence. Local government appears to be the catalyst to political success.

At the first meeting of his Cabinet, on the second day of his premiership, Burnham pledged to form a “cost-of-living government.” Earlier, he announced the scrappage of VAT on household electricity bills from October 2026, which will save the typical household £45 per year. The government claimed loss of revenue from this measure would be replaced by scrapping Starmer’s digital ID scheme. Hours later, Darren Jones revealed no money had been dedicated to the scheme. 

The man responsible for leading Burnham’s cost-of-living strategy is John Healey. This startling appointment followed weeks of speculation centered on two individuals- Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood- likely becoming Chancellor. Days before Burnham entered office, the Financial Times reported he’d appoint the latter to the Treasury. 

Instead Healey will reside in Number 11. Prior to his appointment, Healey served as Defence Secretary from 2024 until June 2026, when he resigned from Starmer’s government after it had dedicated just £13 billion out of a requested £28 billion to increase defence spending. After his resignation, Healey earned respect from across the political spectrum. 

Burnham hopes Healey will use this political capital to navigate the treacherous waters   any Chancellor must wade, softening the impacts of tough fiscal decisions. Healey has served as Member of Parliament for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough in South Yorkshire since 1997, a former Treasury minister and Gordon Brown’s PPS. Healey has promised to focus on fiscal discipline, growth in every postcode, backing Britain, wealth creation, and making life more affordable as Chancellor.

Ed Miliband was appointed Foreign Secretary. Given Miliband has never worked in foreign policy, his appointment appears bizarre. The Telegraph reported the White House is “deeply concerned” by Miliband’s appointment, adding his record as Energy and Net Zero Secretary will be a “point of friction.” Considering Burnham aims to focus on domestic policy, he was expected to appoint an experienced and knowledgeable Foreign Secretary. Miliband fails to meet that criteria. Perhaps he will be replaced by Starmer in a few years.

Shabana Mahmood remains Home Secretary. She has served in the job since last September’s reshuffle. Currently, Mahmood is in the process of introducing significant reform to the UK’s asylum system, which means refugees will no longer receive permanent protection. Burnham voted for these reforms in the House of Commons. 

Wes Streeting returns to the Cabinet as Defence Secretary. Following Starmer’s resignation, Streeting withdrew from the Labour leadership election, endorsing Burnham, after announcing a premature bid which proposed rejoining the EU, increasing capital gains tax and banning social media usage for under 16s. Streeting has no experience in foreign or military policy. His appointment was described by former head of the British Army Lord Dannatt as "very disappointing.”

Like usual, Burnham played favourites when selecting his Cabinet. Burnham’s inner circle, allies and fellow Northerners replaced Starmerites. They are largely career politicians 

First he awarded allies. Louise Haigh acted as Burnham’s gatekeeper during the transfer of power. Now she’ll be Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. She was responsible for increasing Burnham’s popularity within the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), transforming the idea of a Burnham premiership from a far-fetched daydream to a reality. Anneliese Midgley identified Makerfield as the constituency where Burnham would contest a by-election. She will serve as his government’s Chief Whip. Miatta Fanbulleh, the intellectual powerhouse of Burnham’s political machine, was appointed as Energy and Net Zero Secretary. The high concentration of women within Burnham’s inner circle has led many to describe him as “Labour’s first female prime minister.” 

The trademarks of the Starmer government were ejected from Cabinet. Rachel Reeves, David Lammy, Steve Reed and others all made way for Burnham loyalists. 13 of the 27 ministers in Burnham’s Cabinet represent a constituency in the North of England; whilst 6 represent the South; and 4 represent Scotland and Wales. They will likely adhere as loyalists to his drastic devolution agenda. 

An analysis by the i Paper identified 17 cabinet ministers attended the universities of Oxford or Cambridge, making Burnham’s cabinet the most Oxbridge-educated in the modern political era. 

Conclusion

Over the past decade, the task of running Britain has proved impossible. Burnham is “acutely conscious” of the fact he is the seventh prime minister in ten years. Over the following years, he’ll have to navigate the perilous waters of a divided political landscape, polarised media and unfortunate financial and geopolitical circumstances, all while attempting to please his backbenchers. Burnham is Labour’s hail mary candidate for Prime Minister. If Labour changed prime minister again, then their credibility would hemorrhage. Therefore they need Burnham to succeed. Will he?