Andy Burnham, ‘King of the North’ and frontrunner to replace Starmer as PM
Key takeaways
- Andy Burnham is a political insider turned outsider who is the current frontrunner to replace Keir Starmer as Britain’s next prime minister.
- By: FRANCE 24 File photo of Andy Burnham delivers a speech ahead of the June 18 Makerfield by-election, in Wigan, UK on June 13, 2026.
- The 56-year-old politician presents himself as an amiable northern everyman who prefers T-shirts to a suit and tie and spends spare time playing soccer or spinning 1990s tunes during DJ battles.
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Andy Burnham is a political insider turned outsider who is the current frontrunner to replace Keir Starmer as Britain’s next prime minister. After losing two bids for the Labour Party leadership, Burnham focused on Greater Manchester, where he served as mayor and earned a “King of the North” moniker for railing over what he called the Conservative Party’s “London-centric” approach.
By: FRANCE 24 File photo of Andy Burnham delivers a speech ahead of the June 18 Makerfield by-election, in Wigan, UK on June 13, 2026. © Temilade Adelaja, Reuters Andy Burnham is a political insider turned outsider who aims to be Britain’s next prime minister.
The 56-year-old politician presents himself as an amiable northern everyman who prefers T-shirts to a suit and tie and spends spare time playing soccer or spinning 1990s tunes during DJ battles.