MP Profile
Andy Burnham

MP for Makerfield
Labour(Lab & Co-op)
BackgroundFrom education to today. Each entry links to its source.
Education
1988 to 1991
BA English
Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge
He graduated with an upper second class degree.
Source
Secondary school
St Aelred's Catholic High School, Newton-le-Willows
Source
Career
1994 to 1997
Researcher
Office of Tessa Jowell MP
Source
From 1998
Special adviser to the Culture Secretary
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
He advised Chris Smith before entering Parliament in 2001.
Source
Parliamentary officer
NHS Confederation
Source
Administrator
Football Task Force
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Into politics
May 2017 to Jun 2026
Mayor of Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
He was the first elected mayor and left after winning the Makerfield by election.
Source
Jul 2026 to today
Leader of the Labour Party
Labour Party
Source
Last checked: 24 October 2026
Reports mentioning this MPThree Defence Secretaries in Six Weeks24 October 2026 · 3 min read
Defence had three secretaries in six weeks. MPs asked for compulsory minister training in 2013, and appointments still disclose no preparation.
Labour Leads Polls as Consumer Confidence Falls 11 Points24 October 2026 · 3 min read
Labour leads recent polls, but consumer confidence fell 11 points in October, its sharpest drop since the pandemic began.
New Help to Buy Scheme Has No Published Cost24 October 2026 · 5 min read
A new equity loan scheme for first time buyers has no published cost, interest terms or caps ahead of the Budget.
No 10 North's Running Costs Still Not Given to Parliament22 October 2026 · 5 min read
No 10 North has been open three months, and the Cabinet Office still has not told Parliament what it costs.
Early Releases Began Without Updated Prison Capacity Figures4 August 2026 · 4 min read
Early releases began in October after two rounds of exclusions, but no updated prison capacity figures have been published.
Joe Fortune Named Labour General Secretary After Ridley Exit12 July 2026 · 2 min read
Labour's NEC chose Joe Fortune, backed by Andy Burnham, as general secretary after Hollie Ridley stepped down.
Britain Keeps £944m Tech Tax Despite Trump's Tariff Threat30 June 2026 · 4 min read
Britain's digital services tax raised £944m last year. Trump's threatened 100 per cent tariff has still not been imposed.
The MPs Who Miss the Most Commons Votes30 June 2026 · 4 min read
MPs voted in 69.8 per cent of Commons divisions this Parliament. Twenty three current MPs managed less than half that.
Burnham's Record: Buses Delivered, Rough Sleeping Missed23 June 2026 · 5 min read
Burnham became Prime Minister in July. His record includes delivered buses, a missed rough sleeping pledge and a costly clean air reversal.