【HA Viewpoint】On the 17th of this month, Andy Burnham, a working-class Labour Party MP, was elected as the party’s leader. On the 20th, he will succeed Starmer to officially become the British Prime Minister. The BBC reports that he will also be the seventh UK prime minister in nearly a decade, noting that “the sheer speed of this turnover alone shows just how tough a mountain he has to climb.”
Andy Burnham (Image source: Reference)
After becoming Labour leader, Burnham gave a speech saying he is “ready” to serve as Prime Minister. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, many residents of Greater Manchester, where he once served as mayor, showed support for his election. Among them, 66-year-old Ellen Picton said in an interview that she was “very excited” about Burnham’s victory. “I believe he is a leader who serves ordinary people,” she said.
Burnham entered politics in his 20s and held several positions in the Blair and Brown governments. Foreign media describe him as a down-to-earth figure popular in the UK, but he is “not very well known” internationally. The Sydney Morning Herald notes that Burnham is a center-left figure in British politics, dismissive of mainstream “trickle-down economics,” and advocates for taxing the rich to fund social welfare.
According to the BBC and Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, Burnham led a delegation to China in 2018 and was deeply impressed by the country’s high-speed rail and infrastructure development. In April this year, the Chinese Consul General in Manchester met with Burnham at the consulate. Chinese sources say Burnham expressed that Greater Manchester values its ties with China and is committed to boosting cooperation in green development, electric buses, advanced manufacturing, and life sciences.
As Prime Minister, Burnham faces significant challenges. The BBC reports that the UK has weak economic growth, high public debt, and record public spending. On the foreign policy front, he must address issues like policy toward Israel, dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump, supporting Ukraine, and strengthening ties with the EU. It remains unclear whether Burnham will make major changes to domestic or foreign policy. However, AFP and the BBC both predict he is likely to continue the current approach.