Britain’s government is in turmoil, and some see Andy Burnham as the one to save it.
Burnham would first need to return to Parliament, where he could then try to mount a challenge to Starmer's leadership. Starmer, who has vowed to lead on, has been on the ropes, facing plummeting approval ratings and questions about his judgment, and seeing the Labour Party take a beating in U.K.-wide local elections this month.
One key Cabinet member , and more than a fifth of the party's lawmakers in the House of Commons are urging him to stand down. Burnham, 56, is seen as Starmer's biggest would-be rival, partly because he's perceived to be to the political left of the prime minister. The mayor is known as the “King of the North,” and his Labour backers will be hoping that moniker reaps rewards.
The allusion to the popular Jon Snow character in “Game of Thrones” is a sign of respect earned for Burnham's fierce backing of northern England, its working class culture and heritage. It projects an image that he’s not part of the London political establishment. For many northerners, that counts for a lot. But he hasn't always.
Burnham, who was in the Cabinet of Gordon Brown’s government from 2007 to 2010, ran twice for the leadership of the Labour Party and lost badly — first in 2010 and then in 2015. Looking back on those campaigns, he was pretty stiff. Ending his 16-year tenure in Parliament yielded smoother speaking skills and a sleeker look. Suits and ties were largely replaced by a smart-casual look, often paired with sneakers.
More importantly, his stint as mayor made him a more effective operator and, arguably, the best communicator in Labour’s ranks. His standing grew during the COVID-19 pandemic when he became the de facto spokesman for northern England by constantlyBurnham is ready to quit his job as mayor if he wins a special parliamentary election in the constituency of Makerfield, about 20 miles west of Manchester.
His route back to the House of Commons opened up Thursday when Josh Simons, of the Labour Party, said he would step down to make way for Burnham. Though Burnham wasfor a seat that came up earlier this year, Labour’s executive body said Friday that he could run in the special election, which is expected to take place in the next two months.
It will likely be a bruising battle in one of, if not, the most consequential special elections in U.K. history. Burnham acknowledged as much.
“I truly do not take a single vote for granted and will work hard to regain the trust of people in the Makerfield constituency, many of whom have long supported our party but lost faith in recent times,” he said when announcing his intention to run.that swept Conservatives out after 14 years.came at the hands of the ascendant anti-immigrant Reform UK party on the right and, to a lesser-extent, the eco-populist Greens on the left. All the wards in the Makerfield constituency were won by Reform in the local races.
Despite those results, Burnham can capitalize on his reputation as someone who gets things done, said Tim Bale, a professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London.
“Andy Burnham is a big name in the northwest. There will be a lot of people who would like to see him get back into Parliament, not least to take down Keir Starmer,” Bale said.
“In some ways, it’s a useful test for Burnham because if he can’t beat Reform in that constituency, then quite frankly, he’s not much use to the Labour Party as leader. ”If Burnham can get a House of Commons seat, he would either have to trigger a leadership contest or join one. To do so, a member of Parliament needs the support of a fifth — or 81 — of Labour's 403 members.
Starmer, who has vowed to fight on, would automatically be entered to defend his position.after he resigned as Starmer’s health secretary and castigated his former boss for failing to offer effective solutions to the U.K.'s many problems. But he stopped short of that and, in what seemed to be a nod to Burnham, instead called for a “broad” field of candidates to debate the party's future.
Streeting followed up Friday by endorsing Burnham, saying on X that Labour needs its “best players on the pitch. ” He did not, however, say he wanted to see Burnham as prime minister.are former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, defense minister Al Carns and former party leader Ed Miliband.
“Were Burnham to win the by-election, it’s unlikely that Keir Starmer will actually stand in that leadership contest,” Bale said. “If Burnham fails, then Starmer might feel he has a chance against Streeting and Rayner. ”Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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