Andy Burnham

Politician, Mayor of Greater Manchester

British Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK

Quick Info

ProfessionPolitician, Mayor of Greater Manchester
NationalityBritish
Date of Birth07/01/1970
Age56 years
BirthplaceLiverpool, Merseyside, England, UK

Latest News about Andy Burnham

18/06/2026

Andy Burnham was the subject of major coverage after a special parliamentary election win positioned him as a potential future challenger to Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership and even as a possible future prime minister. Reporting described the result as a turning point that revived his national political ambitions. The coverage also noted that he is now being closely watched for the policy direction he would pursue if he returned to Westminster in a bigger role.

Do you like Andy Burnham?

You can vote only once.

Bio/Wiki

Birth NameAndrew Murray Burnham
Nicknames
  • King of the North
  • Bandwagon Burnham
Height5′ 10″ (1.78 m)

Educational Qualification(s)

SchoolSt Aelred's Roman Catholic High School, Newton-le-Willows
College/UniversityFitzwilliam College, Cambridge
DegreeEnglish, 1991

Personal Life

Lives in Leigh, Greater Manchester with wife and three children

Family

Spouse: Wife (name not publicly detailed)
Children: Three children

Career

Early Career
  • Journalism for trade magazines (Tank World, Passenger World Management)
  • Researcher for Tessa Jowell (1994)
  • Worked for Transport and General Workers union
  • Parliamentary officer for NHS Confederation
  • Administrator for Football Task Force
  • Special adviser to Chris Smith (1998)
Parliamentary Career
  • MP for Leigh (2001-2017)
  • Health Select Committee (2001-2003)
  • Parliamentary Private Secretary to David Blunkett and Ruth Kelly
  • Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Home Office, Identity Cards Act 2006)
  • Minister of State, Department of Health (2006)
  • Chief Secretary to the Treasury (2007-2008)
  • Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (2008-2009)
  • Secretary of State for Health (2009-2010)
  • Shadow Cabinet member (opposition years)
Labour LeadershipContender in 2010 (fourth place)
Mayoral Career
  • Mayor of Greater Manchester (2017-present)
  • Re-elected 2021, 2024
  • Third term priorities include integrated transportation system, ending housing crisis by 2038, technical education pathway, and Live Well community health service

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Joined Labour Party at age 14
2. Led campaign for second Hillsborough inquiry after 2009 speech
3. Initially seen as Blairite, later aligned with Gordon Brown
4. Represented Red Wall constituency of Leigh for 16 years as MP
5. Born in Aintree
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
Scroll to Top