Seven Prime Ministers in Ten Years
In 2016, as the debate over whether to leave the European Union intensified within the Conservative Party, then-Prime Minister David Cameron proposed a referendum, believing the 'Remain' side would win. However, the 'Leave' campaign triumphed, leading to Cameron's resignation the following day. Ten years after the Brexit vote, the UK welcomes its seventh Prime Minister this week.
The UK finds itself in urgent need of revitalization. The economy is sluggish, public services are stretched thin, and improvements in living standards have stagnated for decades. Political instability has become the norm, and public sentiment is bleak.
The revolving door of Prime Ministers began with Cameron's resignation and has included Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and Keir Starmer, now passing the baton to Andy Burnham. Each new Prime Minister has promised 'stability,' yet the aftershocks of Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, and the rise of far-right populism have proven too powerful to quell. Starmer, who resigned last month after a decisive victory in the 2024 general election, saw his approval ratings plummet due to frequent policy reversals, a lack of a clear vision, and poor personnel decisions, ultimately leading to his departure after just over a year.
The Labour Party's choice for its next leader is Andy Burnham, 56, known as the 'King of the North.' Unlike many politicians, he did not follow the traditional elite path in Westminster. Born into a working-class family in the suburbs of Liverpool, he joined the Labour Party at 15, studied English literature at Cambridge, and entered Parliament at 31 after a career in journalism. He has held key positions in the Treasury, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and as Health Secretary under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. However, after two unsuccessful bids for party leadership in 2010 and 2015, he made the unusual choice to resign from Parliament in 2017 to become the Mayor of Greater Manchester, successfully reinventing himself from a central political figure to a local administrator.
Moments That Shaped the 'King of the North'
Burnham gained national recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when the Boris Johnson government imposed strict lockdown measures in Manchester but offered inadequate financial support. He confronted the London government, arguing that its decisions endangered the livelihoods of northern workers. His passionate speeches, broadcast nationwide, earned him the nickname 'King of the North.' This was not merely a political moment but became the foundation of his political identity, representing the deep economic and political imbalance between Northern England and the Southeast, as well as the feelings of alienation among Northern citizens.
His record as mayor supports this image. He has pushed for public ownership of bus routes and implemented a flat fare of £2, leading to significant regional economic growth that outpaced the national average. His decisive victory over a far-right candidate in last month's by-election in Wigan further demonstrated his political viability. As Starmer's leadership faltered, Labour quickly rallied around Burnham, who emerged as the sole candidate in the leadership race, securing 379 out of 403 votes from Labour MPs. His rapid return to the political forefront, just a month after leaving local politics, is a rare occurrence in British political history.
'Manchesterism' Beyond Left and Right
Burnham's political stance presents an interesting position within the Labour Party. He is seen as more left-leaning than the centrist pragmatism of Starmer but more moderate than the hard-left former leader Jeremy Corbyn. In his inaugural speech last week, he emphasized that Labour does not need to be more radical than the left-leaning Green Party, nor should it follow the right-wing logic of the Reform Party, nor mimic Conservative policies as in the past.
Unlike Starmer, who was criticized for lacking charisma, Burnham is regarded as a natural communicator. He has a knack for creating a comfortable atmosphere, uniting people, and possesses a friendly sense of humor, often sharing 'dad jokes.' His approachable style, combined with a smart yet relaxed wardrobe, makes him relatable to the public.
He also identifies as a 'definitely pro-business leader' and has pledged to continue his business-friendly approach from his time as mayor into his premiership. This reflects his core political philosophy, termed 'Manchesterism.' He advocates for respecting and collaborating with businesses while enhancing public control over essential infrastructure such as housing, water, energy, and transportation, transferring significant authority from central government to local communities. He argues that the centralization of political power during Margaret Thatcher's government in the 1980s, while privatizing economic control over essential goods, was a misguided choice that led to higher costs for the public and concentrated wealth and power in the hands of a few.
What Sets Him Apart from Previous Prime Ministers
Every British Prime Minister has claimed to address regional imbalances. David Cameron initiated the 'Northern Powerhouse' policy, which laid the groundwork for the mayoral system Burnham now leads, while Boris Johnson promoted 'levelling up.' However, both initiatives remained largely symbolic, as central government departments, including the Treasury, have consistently refused to relinquish real budgetary control, citing local financial vulnerabilities and a lack of accountability. Despite the establishment of devolved governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland nearly 30 years ago, all three regions lack substantial tax and borrowing powers, resulting in their continued low rankings in economic growth rates since the late 1990s.
Burnham's experience as a former minister and mayor of Greater Manchester has led to an understanding of local needs that surpasses that of previous Prime Ministers. The economic growth rate of Greater Manchester during his nine-year tenure was nearly double the national average. He has even proposed relocating some functions of the Prime Minister's office to Manchester, a move that signifies a desire to redesign the governance structure centered around Westminster and Whitehall. This indicates a clear commitment to reforming the UK's centralized power structure to address the chronic regional imbalances.
However, whether this plan will avoid the failures of the past remains to be seen. The UK is considered one of the most centralized countries in terms of fiscal structure among advanced democracies. According to OECD statistics, local governments in the UK collect only about 6% of total tax revenue, significantly lower than France's 20% and half that of Germany and the United States. Experts argue that this low level of fiscal autonomy is a fundamental cause of the severe regional disparities in the UK, even more pronounced than the East-West divide in Germany or the North-South divide in Italy.
Time and Challenges Ahead for Burnham
Burnham does not have much time. He faces pressure to deliver visible results within a maximum of three years before the next general election, possibly even sooner. Addressing regional imbalances is inherently a long-term challenge, and voters have a history of harshly judging Prime Ministers who have repeatedly promised change without delivering. One of the early tests he faces is the issue of North Sea oil and gas development. The Labour Party has pledged not to grant new drilling permits in the 2024 election, but there are concerns that connecting pipelines to existing offshore facilities could effectively develop new oil fields without violating this pledge. How Burnham handles this issue early in his tenure will likely be a litmus test for both climate advocates and energy security proponents.
Party unity is also crucial. Burnham has promised not to discipline party members with differing views, distancing himself from the rigid control culture of the Starmer era, and has vowed to end the informal political maneuvering through unofficial media briefings typical of Downing Street. This reflects a response to the dissatisfaction that emerged within Labour during Starmer's leadership, characterized by an exclusive and closed decision-making culture. However, he has faced ongoing criticism from rivals for frequently changing his positions, and there are conflicting perceptions of him as both a shrewd power strategist and a polarizing figure, leaving uncertainty about his leadership style.
An Experiment and a Gamble
Andy Burnham's ascension to the premiership represents an experiment in British politics. By placing a locally validated figure at the helm of national governance, the hope is to break the cycle of 'central political failure → new face emergence → failure again' that has persisted since Brexit. His combination of decentralization and pro-business policies is ideologically refreshing, yet the reality is that the UK's fiscal structure and administrative capabilities may not support this vision. As former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently pointed out, even if Burnham wishes to remain a 'decentralized Prime Minister,' he will constantly face pressing issues such as international relations, economic downturns, and fiscal pressures.
Nevertheless, what distinguishes him from his predecessors is that all six Prime Ministers from Cameron to Starmer resigned under pressure from crises, eroding public trust in British politics. Burnham is the first Prime Minister to have 'failed at the center and returned validated from the local level.' His success or failure will ultimately depend on how willing Westminster is to relinquish power and resources, and whether local governments are prepared to handle that authority. Now that the 'King of the North' has taken residence at Downing Street, the answers will emerge in the next three years.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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