Keir Starmer on Monday announced his decision step down as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom as well as the leader of the Labour Party, drawing attention to potential candidates who could replace Starmer on both fronts, with Andy Burnham, nicknamed the “King of the North”, emerging as the frontrunner.
Who is Andy Burnham?
Andy Burnham, 56, is a Labour politician who has earned a reputation as the champion of northern England owing to his clash with former PM Boris Johnson-led Conservative government during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Burnham has emerged as a rallying figure for Labour members and supporters seeking an alternative to Starmer’s leadership, and has earned a pan-national political identity, extending well beyond his constituency.
Considered one of the most recognisable Labour Party figures in the UK, Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election last week, and returned to the House of Commons after nearly a decade spent governing Greater Manchester as its mayor.
On the eve of the by-election, Burnham had indicated that he would enter any future Labour leadership contest and challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer if he won the Makerfield by-polls.
How Andy Burnham earned the ‘King of the North’ moniker?
In 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak, Andy Burnham publicly challenged the government of then-prime minister Boris Johnson over financial support for northern England affected by lockdown restrictions.
Burnham accused the Boris Johnson-led Conservative government of disproportionately favoring London and the South East while while failing to provide adequate support to workers and businesses in northern regions.
His standoff with the Conservative government tapped into long-standing regional disparities in Britain, as many northern England often express discontent with political power, investment, and economic opportunities being disproportionately concentrated in London and the South East.
Andy Burnham public standoff with London garnered widespread media coverage and positioned him to a symbol of northern resistance, earning him his Game of Thrones-esque moniker, the “King of the North”, a symbolic reference to the popular book and TV series, where northern leaders often challenge the seat of power in the in-universe capital of King’s Landing.
Will Andy Burnham become the next British PM?
While Andy Burnham enjoys immense support in northern England, his political appeal, which is tied to regional identity, devolution of taxes and duties, and working-class communities, does not extend beyond the northern regions.
Burnham has built a a loyal following in Greater Manchester and other northern regions, but to become the Prime Minister, he would require winning support across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Critics argue Burnham’s impressive record as the mayor of Greater Manchester is unlikely to translate into national leadership, which means the 56-year-old may not even be in the actual race to succeed Keir Starmer as the UK’s seventh prime minister in just over a decade.
However, Burnham supporters believe he can reconnect Labour with working-class voters and areas that often feel ignored by London.
First published on: Jun 22, 2026 09:39 PM IST
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