Burnham latest: Makerfield MP vows to ‘lift Britain back up’ with radical 10-year plan to raise living standards

Who is Mr Burnham, and how did he come to be the frontrunner to become the next prime minister?

The Conservative Party on Sunday announced Trafford councillor Phil Eckersley as its candidate to be the next Greater Manchester mayor.

The local businessman was confirmed as their runner on Sunday and he will go up against Labour’s Bev Craig, the leader of Manchester City Council, as well as the Green Party’s Geraldine Coggins, who is also a Trafford councillor.

Labour has pitched it as a two-party race against Reform UK, who made sweeping gains in the area during the local elections.

But the Greens will also be aiming to win votes from Labour following their success in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

MP Rupert Lowe has said his Restore party will stand a candidate. Reform has yet to announced their would-be mayor.

The mayoral by-election is scheduled for July 30 and Trafford Council’s Bowdon Ward representative Mr Eckersley said he is “honoured to have been selected”.

Mr Eckersley, who founded Bridgewater Care Home in Wigan in 2010, which employs more than 100 people, added: “Greater Manchester is my home, and it’s a region with enormous potential, but too often decisions are made with a focus on Manchester city centre – with the outer boroughs getting left behind.

“As a business owner, father and local councillor, I understand the challenges facing families, businesses and communities across our city-region.

“From pressure on public services and concerns about crime and antisocial behaviour, to congestion, housing and the need for stronger local economies, these are issues I have dealt with directly throughout my professional and public life.

“The Conservative Party has a clear vision for Greater Manchester – safer streets, better transport, thriving local businesses, responsible development and value for taxpayers’ money.”

Here’s what his premiership could mean for the country:

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has warned Andy Burnham had only a “very short window to turn this government around” as the country is “impatient for change”.

“People have heard this sort of talk before only to be badly let down because nothing changes – Burnham mustn’t repeat that mistake,” he said.

“If he’s serious about firing up growth and cutting the cost of living, Burnham must ditch Labour’s old red lines on Europe and take Britain into the single market.

“We will be holding his feet to the fire to finally deliver the change people are crying out for.”

The former Greater Manchester mayor continues to mull his future cabinet.

Rachel Reeves appears to have conceded she will no longer be staying on as Chancellor, with several senior ministers including home secretary Shabana Mahmood and energy secretary Ed Miliband tipped to succeed her.

Lucy Powell said she thought Mr Miliband would be good at running the Treasury but cautioned against “tittle-tattle” over who may get which job.

Steve Reed said he would be “very happy” to keep his Cabinet position under a Burnham government and had been speaking to the Makerfield MP in recent days, but that appointments would be a matter for the leader.

Labour leadership frontrunner Andy Burnham will pledge to give Britain the “circuit-breaker it needs” in a major speech unveiling his plans for devolution and the economy.

Mr Burnham, who served as a minister and on the opposition frontbench before becoming a regional mayor in 2017, will use his speech to suggest his generation of politicians – himself included – must take responsibility for the loss of public trust in politics.

He is expected to commit to public procurement reform which will centre on “buying British” in a bid to revive industry and in turn securing more “social value” in the form of work placements and apprenticeships.

Education reforms are also to be unveiled aimed at delivering what his team describe as “true parity” between the academic and the technical – a balance which outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also sought to focus on while in government.

Do Andy Burnham’s new constituents want him to become prime minister?

Dan Haygarth finds out. Read below: