How Andy Burnham got a politically uninterested teenager to pursue Politics

Written: 06/07/26

Keir Starmer emotionally announced his resignation as Leader of the Labour Party, 2 weeks ago today (as of 6th July). In an emotionally-driven speech, Starmer became the sixth Prime Minister to leave Downing Street in the last decade. 

At the time of writing, Andy Burnham is widely regarded as the overwhelming favourite to become the next Prime Minister. 

Since winning the Makerfield by-election, ahead of the likes of Reform UK’s Rob Kenyon, and Restore Britain's Rebecca Lee Shepherd, Burnham has sparked my sudden interest in the Political Space. I’ve gone from a 16 year old who was completely disinterested in Politics, to one who now wants to pursue it at College. 

But why is that? What does Burnham bring to the table that piques my interest? I will delve into some of the reasons why in this article.

N°10 North

Many argue that the North East + West and East Midlands are just a few of many regions of the UK neglected by the Government. They have fallen far behind London and the South-East as a whole, due to a division in power and serious under-investment. 

Burnham has proposed a radical “rewiring” of Britain, in order to “make the country feel more balanced.” He claims N°10 North will act as a “conduit, to get power out into the country.” It aims to get growth into every part of the UK. 

It is the establishment of a secondary prime ministerial office, which is located in Manchester. It is not the complete movement of Downing Street, and it doesn’t take power away from London, it simply decentralises executive influence. 

Mass Devolution

Burnham promises to transfer power of essential public services into the hands of regional mayors and local authorities. In turn, this allows them to run public services to match the local needs. 

He successfully achieved this during his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester, with the introduction of the “Bee Network.” It brought deregulated private bus operators under a unified public franchising system. The initiative allowed the capping of fares at just £2 for adults, greater enforcement of environmental standards, and cross-modal integration. Therefore, the Bee Network not only transformed the efficiency of buses, but also of all transportation methods in Manchester.

Burnham intends to grant regional authorities the legal powers to allow them to take control of essential public utilities, such as water and energy. As a result of this, it can help bring consumer bills down, Burnham argues. In his words, “we have a situation with water where the shareholders never lose, the bill payers never win, and that can’t carry on.” 

He also promises integrated health support, which means local authorities can integrate mental health services directly into the workplace. This means that more people can stay in and return to employment. 

Changing the culture of politics in Westminster

Burnham firmly believes that the political system in Westminster is “broken.” He wants problem-solving to become collaborative, and less point-scoring. He pledges to move away from the adversarial nature of British politics and focus on long-term collaborative efforts over a toxic “us versus them” approach. 

He feels that MPs are restricted by their parties and the very strict whipping system. He wants to move to a “place first, not party first” mindset, where MPs have more freedom in solving more local issues, and prioritising their local communities instead of their party. 

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These are just some of the many reasons why Andy Burnham has made me more engaged with British Politics. They are the key ideas which interest me most, on an individual level. 

This article does not seek to discredit alternative viewpoints, but rather to express appreciation for Burnham’s specific political vision. Every individual has the right to articulate their beliefs peacefully, and should be able to do so free from abuse or hostility.