The newly confirmed leader of the Labour Party, Andy Burnham, takes a selfie with local stakeholders and party supporters in Gravesend, England, on Friday. GARETH FULLER VIA AP
Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester and a veteran Labour politician known for championing devolution, regional economic renewal and working-class communities, will succeed Keir Starmer as British prime minister on Monday.
In a speech after winning the Labour leadership on Friday, Burnham recalled working with Starmer a decade ago, thanked him for leading the party to victory in the 2024 general election, and praised his government's record.
"I have supported all our Labour leaders in my lifetime because I believe a united Labour Party and Labour movement is the best hope for our country," Burnham said before setting out priorities, which include ending internal party factionalism and devolving more power to local government.
Although Burnham did not outline his China policy, his long-standing advocacy of what has become known as "Manchesterism" — shifting power away from Westminster, expanding public control over essential infrastructure and promoting more balanced regional development — suggests continuity in Labour's pragmatic approach toward the world's second-largest economy.
