Meet the 'King of the North' Set to Become the UK's New Prime Minister

Andy Burnham, the widely popular mayor of Greater Manchester, is emerging as the likely successor to become the United Kingdom's next Prime Minister. His potential ascent follows the announcement by the deeply unpopular incumbent, Sir Keir Starmer, that he will step down. Starmer's departure was accelerated by Burnham's decisive victory in a recent by-election in Makerfield, north-west England, positioning him as Starmer's clearest successor.

Known as the "King of the North," Burnham joined the Labour Party at 14, inspired by the miners' strike. He served in various junior and senior ministerial roles under Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. A significant moment in his early career was his address at the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster in 2009. The tragedy, which claimed the lives of 97 fans in 1989, had been marked by official blame placed on supporters. Burnham's empathetic response, acknowledging the fans' calls for justice, was later recognized with a rare standing ovation in the House of Commons after he worked with survivors on a subsequent inquiry that found fans were unlawfully killed.

Burnham has made previous attempts to lead the Labour Party, coming fourth in the 2010 leadership contest after Gordon Brown's resignation and again being beaten by Jeremy Corbyn in 2015. He has expressed personal hope for the UK to rejoin the European Union during his lifetime, though he has moderated his previous strong opposition to Brexit. His leadership could signal a shift in the Labour Party's direction, potentially emphasizing his regional focus and his experience in handling significant public events and social issues.

“

It has been the privilege of my life to work with them all.