Andy Burnham, the former cabinet minister and long-serving mayor of Greater Manchester, is the only declared candidate in the race to become the next prime minister. Known as the 'King of the North' for his vocal championing of northern England, Burnham’s path to Downing Street has been unusual – and his stance on the European Union, in particular, has shifted in ways that reveal the delicate balancing act required to lead a country still divided by Brexit.
Burnham has been a fixture of Labour politics for two decades. He served as a cabinet minister under Gordon Brown, holding posts including health secretary and culture secretary. Later, as mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017, he built a reputation as a pragmatic, popular figure who focused on local transport, housing, and devolution – often clashing with Westminster governments of both parties. Now, after winning a by-election in the seat of Makerfield in June 2026, he is the sole declared candidate for the leadership, and looks set to become prime minister.
“Explaining Andy Burnham's political career, his Brexit stance, and his potential rise to prime minister.”
But his path to that by-election tells a more complicated story. Burnham had originally wanted to stand in Gorton and Denton, a constituency that would have allowed him to run on an unabashedly left-wing platform. Instead, he ended up in Makerfield, a seat that had voted Leave by two to one in the 2016 referendum. To win there, Burnham had to step carefully on the issue that still haunts British politics. He had never hidden his Remainer views during his time as mayor – just last year he tried to open a conversation about rejoining the EU, saying 'the EU benefited this country'. But in the Makerfield campaign, he wisely decided not to 're-run' the old arguments. That was enough to secure victory with 24,927 votes – and now he is on track to be prime minister.
Why does this matter for UK readers? Burnham’s potential premiership could reshape the debate on Brexit – and the future of the country's relationship with Europe. Polls consistently show that a stable majority of the British public – around 55% – now supports rejoining the EU, a phenomenon sometimes called 'Bregret'. But Burnham’s careful silence on the issue suggests he knows that simply calling for a return to the status quo is politically risky. As one analysis put it, the shadow of Nigel Farage still looms over Labour. If Burnham becomes prime minister, the question of how – or whether – to pursue closer ties with the EU will be one of the defining challenges of his premiership.
Q: Is Andy Burnham going to be the next Labour leader? He is the only declared candidate for the leadership, having won the Makerfield by-election in June 2026. His path to becoming prime minister now appears clear, though internal party dynamics and a potential general election could still change the picture.
Q: What is Andy Burnham’s stance on Brexit? Burnham was a Remainer who as mayor tried to open a conversation about rejoining. But in his by-election campaign in heavily Leave-voting Makerfield, he declined to re-run the old arguments. His current position is ambiguous, suggesting he is prioritising electability over a firm stance on Europe.
Q: What does his past as a cabinet minister and mayor tell us about his plans for the country? His record as health secretary and culture secretary shows a focus on public services, while his mayoralty emphasised devolution, transport, and housing for the North. He is seen as a pragmatic centrist, but also as a politician willing to stand up to Westminster, which could translate into a more assertive approach from Number 10.
What happens next remains uncertain. Burnham’s rise has been rapid since the by-election, but he has not yet spelled out detailed policy plans. The ‘March for Rejoin’ held in London shortly after his victory drew only modest numbers, and Burnham did not attend. The coming months will reveal whether he can hold together a Labour coalition that includes both ardent Remainers and Leave voters who backed him in Makerfield – and whether his careful centrism can win the country as a whole.