Burnham spent almost a decade running Manchester in northwest England before returning to Parliament by winning a special election last month.
He’s promising sweeping change, vowing to reverse almost two decades of low growth since the 2008 financial crisis through an approach dubbed “Manchesterism” – harnessing private and public money to invest in areas like transport, housing and infrastructure.
But he will face many of the same political and economic challenges as Starmer, including a sluggish economy, tattered public services and a cost-of-living squeeze.
He also promised continuity in foreign policy, writing in The Times of London that the government’s “commitment to NATO and the UK’s nuclear deterrent will remain absolute”.
He said Britain will remain a firm ally of the United States and a strong supporter of Ukraine.