That’s where he wants to go: Andy Burnham last Thursday after casting his vote in the Makerfield by-election.Image: keystone
Keir Starmer must step down as British Prime Minister. With Andy Burnham, his successor is practically set. He is considered close to the people, but he faces a Herculean task.
June 22, 2026, 3:25 p.mJune 22, 2026, 3:25 p.m
The pressure was too great: Sir Keir Starmer declared on Monday his resignation as British Prime Minister. Last Friday, the Labor politician appeared combative and pointed to his achievements: rapprochement with the EU, shorter waiting times in the healthcare system, a significant decline in immigration.
It didn’t help at all. Over the weekend, Starmer had to acknowledge that even his closest comrades-in-arms were against him had withdrawn trust. He had no choice but to announce his resignation from the Labor leadership and with it the office of head of government. You could see how difficult this step was for him.
Video: watson/nina bürge
Keir Starmer has integrity and competence. But with his accountant image he failed to convince the British, who were frustrated by years of political chaos and economic stagnation. Now someone with a completely different appeal is supposed to do it: Andy Burnham, the previous mayor of the greater Manchester region.
Evidence of Starmer’s loss of power
Shortly after Starmer’s appearance he announced his application. Since last Thursday, the path to the top of the party and government has been clear for him. Burnham won in a by-election for the House of Commons in the Makerfield constituencywhich includes part of the Manchester agglomeration. He took up his seat in Parliament at Westminster on Monday.
The circumstances of Burnham’s success say something about Keir Starmer’s fall from power. In the spring, the Prime Minister and his entourage had planned Andy Burnham’s candidacy in another Commons by-election thwarted. Now they had to accept that one of Burnham’s allies vacated the seat in Makerfield for him.
Victory with an absolute majority
The extent of Burnham’s election victory is for Starmer’s allies been a significant factorwrote the Guardian. And the 56-year-old delivered: He won 55 percent of the votes and thus an absolute majority. He did not have to hope that the right-wing Restore Britain party would steal votes from his Reform UK challenger.
Andy Burnham with his wife and daughter after the successful election in Makerfield.Image: keystone
On Friday, Andy Burnham gave a speech to supporters that could be interpreted as an application for the office of Prime Minister in London. He will do everything to ensure that “the name Makerfield is forever synonymous with bringing about the change that this country needs,” said the previous Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Image of the maker
The conditions are not bad. Andrew Murray Burnham comes from a humble background. This also applies to Keir Starmer, but unlike the current head of government, his presumed successor is close to the people. This is what his casual clothing style represents. The only time he wears a tie is when he has to parade before the king.
Burnham also has government experience at a national level, specifically under former Labor prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Nine years ago he moved to the office of mayor of Manchester and acquired the image of a doer. Considered the greatest success the renationalization of the dysfunctional private bus system.
The “King of the North”
Today the yellow double-decker buses are more punctual and cheaper than before. At the same time, Manchester grew faster than any other city in the kingdom, including London, despite the “collateral damage” such as a tight housing market. With a master plan for housing, jobs and infrastructure, Burnham faced considerable resistance.
The renationalization of buses in Manchester is considered perhaps Burnham’s greatest success.Image: Ho
Nevertheless, Andy Burnham is very popular; he was given the nickname “King of the North”. Politically, he is assigned to the “soft left” within the Labor Party, the moderate left. Strengthening the public service and reversing nationalizations are likely to be the focus of his future work as prime minister.
Already failed twice
Not everyone on the island is convinced that he is up to the herculean task. For critics, Burnham is a man of yesterday. The Economist points out that he does failed in two attempts for the party leadership and conveyed contradictory messages on important issues such as a balanced national budget.
The election in Makerfield also illustrates the misery of British politics: the conservative Tories played no role (although they did show a sign of life by winning another by-election in Aberdeen, Scotland). Burnham ran against a right-wing populist (Reform UK) and a right-wing (Restore Britain) party.
Approval ratings declining
The new head of government must create a spirit of optimism in an exhausted kingdom, and this task alone is almost superhuman. Keir Starmer on Monday became the sixth leader in ten years to announce his resignation on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street, in a system designed for maximum stability.
The advance praise for the presumed new resident of the official residence in London is manageable. Andy Burnham may be popular in Manchester, but nationally his approval ratings have fallen since mid-May, when he emerged as Starmer’s successor, according to YouGov turned from mostly positive to negative.
This may have more to do with the British people’s anger at the Labor government than with him personally, but it doesn’t make his start any easier. He rules out a return to the EU, which a majority of Brits want, but he wants to deepen relations. And he has to find a connection to the unpredictable Donald Trump.
It is still unclear when Andy Burnham will take office, but according to the BBC it could happen quickly. A potential rival has lined up behind him in former Health Minister Wes Streeting. Two years after its general election triumph, it’s all or nothing for Labor. One thing is clear: the “King of the North” has to deliver.