Andy Burnham has been the Mayor of Greater Manchester since May 2017, securing reelection for a second term in May 2021. In this role, Burnham serves as the chair and eleventh member of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), leading on Policy & Reform and Transport.
He is supported by Deputy Mayors, including Kate Green, who is responsible for Police, Crime, Criminal Justice, and Fire. Before his tenure as Mayor, Burnham had a distinguished career in national politics.
He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Leigh from 2001, during which he held various ministerial positions across the Home Office, Department of Health, and the Treasury. Notably, he served as the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in 2008 and returned as the Secretary of State for Health in 2009.
Following his time in government, Burnham held prominent roles in the opposition as the Shadow Education Secretary, Shadow Health Secretary, and Shadow Home Secretary. Residing in Leigh, Greater Manchester, with his family, Burnham is also known for his support of Everton FC.
One of his notable initiatives as Mayor is the establishment of Mayor's Question Time, a quarterly event restarted in September 2022 after a pause due to the coronavirus pandemic. This event offers local residents the opportunity to address the Mayor directly about various local issues.
As Mayor, Burnham is accountable to the residents of all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester, guiding the GMCA's efforts in enhancing the region's economy, transport, and public services, including police and fire services. His responsibilities extend to managing the transport budget received from the government, acting as the public's voice on policing matters as the Police and Crime Commissioner, making strategic decisions about the fire service, and overseeing a £300 million housing investment fund.
Additionally, he plays a crucial role in developing a spatial framework for Greater Manchester, requiring approval from the 10 councils. While some decisions can be made independently by the Mayor, others necessitate consultation and approval from all GMCA members, with varying requirements for unanimous or majority support.
Burnham's leadership aims to ensure Greater Manchester ranks among the best places globally, advocating for the region at both the national and international levels.
The Labour Party is a prominent political force in the United Kingdom, characterized by its alignment with social democracy and democratic socialism. Situated on the centre-left of the political spectrum, Labour has played a significant role in British politics since its founding in 1900.
Emerging from the trade union movement and socialist parties of the 19th century, it initially served to represent the interests of the working class.
As of the last general election in 2019, Labour holds the position of the Official Opposition in the UK Parliament, having secured the second-largest number of seats. It is the largest party in the Welsh Parliament and the third-largest in the Scottish Parliament.
Internationally, Labour is affiliated with the Party of European Socialists and the Progressive Alliance and holds observer status in the Socialist International.
The Labour Party, under the leadership of Sir Keir Starmer, is focused on restoring economic stability to the UK. They advocate for strict fiscal policies to prevent unnecessary expenditures, promoting transparency and efficiency through new oversight bodies like the Covid Corruption Commissioner and an Office for Value for Money.
Their economic plan is designed to contrast with the perceived instability under the Conservative Party, emphasizing responsible financial management and targeted investments for growth.
Labour criticizes the current government for reducing the UK’s defense capabilities and outlines a plan to revitalize the nation's military resources. The party proposes a comprehensive Strategic Defence and Security Review, supporting the armed forces more robustly, and establishing an Armed Forces Commissioner to ensure the security of the nation and uphold the interests of military personnel.
The party plans a significant overhaul of the UK's immigration and border security systems, aiming to create a more efficient and secure framework. Labour’s strategy includes enhancing the enforcement of border laws, dismantling human trafficking networks, and improving the asylum system to ensure it is both cost-effective and secure.
Labour intends to undertake substantial reforms within the National Health Service (NHS) to address inefficiencies and the backlog caused by Conservative policies. The plan includes investments in healthcare infrastructure such as more MRI and CT scanners, and increasing the number of healthcare professionals to provide better service and care.
Tackling crime and enhancing community safety are central to Labour’s agenda, with plans to increase the police presence and introduce new community policing measures. The party emphasizes preventive strategies, especially focusing on youth crime and the root causes of antisocial behavior, to foster safer communities.
Labour commits to transformative educational reforms to ensure equitable opportunities for all. These reforms include recruiting more teachers, overhauling the curriculum, and investing in school infrastructure to equip students for modern challenges and ensure access to high-quality education and lifelong learning opportunities across the country.
In response to environmental concerns and the energy crisis, Labour advocates for establishing a new publicly-owned clean energy company and expanding renewable energy resources. This initiative aims to reduce dependency on foreign energy, combat climate change, and stimulate economic growth through the creation of sustainable jobs.
The Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, with deputy leader Angela Rayner, and General Secretary David Evans, positions itself as a centre-left party, embodying social democratic and democratic socialist ideologies. Founded in 1900, Labour has grown from its trade union roots to become a major political force in the UK, advocating for social justice, economic reform, and public service enhancement.
The party maintains active branches across the UK, including Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and engages with various international socialist and social democratic groups, reflecting its commitment to broad-based, progressive policies.
Labour advocates for a blend of social democracy and democratic socialism, aiming to balance market economics with social welfare policies. It promotes government intervention in the economy, fair distribution of wealth, and comprehensive public services, including healthcare and education.
The party maintains close ties with the Co-operative Party, with many Labour MPs sitting in Parliament as Labour Co-operative representatives. While it supports the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in Northern Ireland, Labour continues to organize and maintain a presence there, adapting its strategies to address both local and national issues effectively.
Overall, the Labour Party remains a key player in shaping the political, social, and economic landscape of the United Kingdom, committed to advancing the principles of fairness, equality, and social justice.