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'''Andrew Murray Burnham''' (born 7 January 1970) is a ] ] ] who has been the ] for ] since ]. He served in ] under ] from 2007 to 2010 as ], ] and ]. He was a candidate in the ], coming fourth out of five candidates. Burnham was initially appointed ] within ], but was moved to become ]. '''Andrew Murray Burnham''' (born 7 January 1970) is a ] ] ] and the ] for ] since ]. He is currently ].

Burnham continuously held various ] posts under the ] of ] between ] to ], first as ], then ] and ]. He was a candidate in the ], coming fourth out of the five candidates with 8.68% of the vote.


== Early life == == Early life ==
Burnham was born in Old Roan in ], ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://andy4leader.com/about|title=Andy's biography from his Andy4Leader web-site}}</ref> the son of a telephone engineer father and a receptionist mother, and brought up in ], near ] where his family moved to when his father was promoted to a job in ]. He was educated at St. Lewis' Primary School and ] in ] and the ], where he read English at ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/MinistersandDepartmentLeaders/Ministers/Ministersbiography/DH_100325 |title=[ARCHIVED CONTENT&#93; Biography of Andy Burnham : Department of Health&nbsp;— About us |publisher=Webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk |date= |accessdate=2013-04-09}}</ref> Burnham was born in Old Roan in ], ] in 1970,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://andy4leader.com/about|title=Andy's biography from his Andy4Leader web-site}}</ref> the son of a telephone engineer father and a receptionist mother. He was also brought up in ], close to ]. He was educated at St. Lewis' Primary School and ], ] and the ], where he read for an English degree at ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/MinistersandDepartmentLeaders/Ministers/Ministersbiography/DH_100325 |title=[ARCHIVED CONTENT&#93; Biography of Andy Burnham : Department of Health&nbsp;— About us |publisher=Webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk |date= |accessdate=2013-04-09}}</ref>


=== Joining the Labour Party === === Joining the Labour Party ===
Burnham joined the Labour Party aged 14 in 1984,<ref> BACTA, 28 January 2008</ref> during the ], and was a researcher to ] from 1994 until the ]. He joined the ] in 1995. After the 1997 election, he was briefly a ] for the ] from August to December 1997, before taking up the post as an administrator with the Football Task Force for a year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/jan/26/uk.media|title=New culture secretary keeps an open mind on licence fee|last=Woodward|first=Will|date=26 January 2008|work=]|publisher=]|accessdate=12 October 2008 | location=London| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20081005143739/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/jan/26/uk.media| archivedate= 5 October 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> Burnham joined the Labour Party aged 14 in 1984.<ref> BACTA, 28 January 2008</ref>
Burnham was a researcher to ] from 1994 until the ], and joined the ] in 1995. After the 1997 election, he was briefly a ] for the ] from August to December 1997, before taking up the post as an administrator with the Football Task Force for a year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/jan/26/uk.media|title=New culture secretary keeps an open mind on licence fee|last=Woodward|first=Will|date=26 January 2008|work=]|publisher=]|accessdate=12 October 2008 | location=London| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20081005143739/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/jan/26/uk.media| archivedate= 5 October 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>


In 1998, he became a ] to the then ], ], a position he remained in until his election to ] in ]. In 1998, he became a ] to the then ], ], a position he remained in until his election to ] in ].


== Member of Parliament == == Member of Parliament ==
After the retirement of ], Burnham applied to be the Parliamentary Candidate for the safe Labour seat of ]. Burnham managed to secure selection to contest the safe seat at the next General Election. At the ], he was elected with a majority of 16,362, and gave his ] on 4 July 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo010704/debtext/10704-21.htm#10704-21_spnew1|title=House of Commons Hansard; vol 371, part 14, col 333|date=4 July 2001|work=]|publisher=]|accessdate=12 October 2008}}</ref> After the retirement of ], Burnham applied to be the Parliamentary Candidate for the safe Labour seat of ]. Burnham managed to secure selection to contest the safe seat at the next General Election. At the ], he was elected with a majority of 16,362, and gave his ] on ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo010704/debtext/10704-21.htm#10704-21_spnew1|title=House of Commons Hansard; vol 371, part 14, col 333|date=4 July 2001|work=]|publisher=]|accessdate=12 October 2008}}</ref>


=== In Government === === In Government ===
Following his election to Parliament, he became a member of the ] from 2001 until 2003, when he was appointed the ] to ] ]. Following Blunkett's first resignation in 2004, he went on to become the PPS to ] ]. He was promoted to serve in ] after the ] as a ], with responsibility for implementing the ]. Following his election to Parliament, he became a member of the ] from 2001 until 2003, when he was appointed the ] to ] ]. Following Blunkett's first resignation in 2004, he went on to become the PPS to ] ]. He was promoted to serve in ] after the ] as a ], with responsibility for implementing the ].


In the government reshuffle of 5 May 2006, Burnham was promoted from the ] to a ] at the ]. In the government reshuffle of ], Burnham was promoted from the ] to a ] at the ].


=== In Cabinet === === In Cabinet ===
In ]'s first Cabinet, announced 28 June 2007, Burnham was appointed as the new ], a position he held until 2008. In ]'s first Cabinet, announced ], Burnham was appointed as the new ], a position he held until 2008.


The '']'' published an interview with Burnham on 13 October 2007 in which he stated that: "I think it’s better when children are in a home where their parents are married" and "it’s not wrong that the tax system should recognise commitment and marriage", which created some controversy because following through this argument would replicate the current policies of the ].<ref name="Telegraph_15Oct07">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1566036/Marriage-is-important%2C-children-do-notice.html|title=Marriage is important, children do notice|last=Sylvester|first=Rachel|coauthors=Thomson, Alice|date=15 October 2007|work=]|publisher=]|accessdate=12 October 2008 | location=London}}</ref> The '']'' published an interview with Burnham on ] in which he stated that: "I think it’s better when children are in a home where their parents are married" and "it’s not wrong that the tax system should recognise commitment and marriage", which created some controversy because following through this argument would replicate the current policies of the ].<ref name="Telegraph_15Oct07">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1566036/Marriage-is-important%2C-children-do-notice.html|title=Marriage is important, children do notice|last=Sylvester|first=Rachel|coauthors=Thomson, Alice|date=15 October 2007|work=]|publisher=]|accessdate=12 October 2008 | location=London}}</ref>


In a re-shuffle in January 2008, he was appointed as ], replacing ].<ref> Times Online, 25 January 2008</ref> In a re-shuffle in ], Burnham was promoted to the position of ], replacing ].<ref> Times Online, 25 January 2008</ref> In ], he had to apologise to the director of pressure group ], ], after she threatened to sue him for libel for smearing her reputation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/jun/23/daviddavis.terrorism|title=Chakrabarti-Davis row: Liberty head accepts letter of apology from Burnham|last=Percival|first=Jenny|date=23 June 2008|work=]|publisher=]|accessdate=11 October 2008 | location=London}}</ref>


⚫ In late 2008, Burnham announced Government plans to crack down on the Internet, tightening up controls in order to "even up" what he claimed was an imbalance with TV regulations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/sep/26/digitalmedia.internet| title=Government to tighten up web controls |work=]| date= 26 September 2008|first=Mark|last=Sweney}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7644849.stm|title= The medium and the message|publisher=]|date =1 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jun/11/digitalmedia.media|title= Andy Burnham hints at tighter control of online content|work=The Guardian|first=Leigh |last=Holmwood|date= 11 June 2008}}</ref> This was followed by a speech to the UK music industry's lobbying group, UK Music, in which he announced a "a time that calls for partnership between Government and the music business as a whole: one with rewards for both of us; one with rewards for society as a whole. (...) My job&nbsp;– Government’s job&nbsp;– is to preserve the value in the system."<ref>{{dead link|date=April 2013}}</ref>
In June 2008, he was apologised to the director of pressure group ], ], after she threatened to sue him for libel for smearing her reputation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/jun/23/daviddavis.terrorism|title=Chakrabarti-Davis row: Liberty head accepts letter of apology from Burnham|last=Percival|first=Jenny|date=23 June 2008|work=]|publisher=]|accessdate=11 October 2008 | location=London}}</ref>


He was promoted again to become ] in ]. He held the post until the then Labour Government resigned after the ].
⚫ In late 2008, he announced Government plans to crack down on the Internet, tightening up controls in order to "even up" what he claimed was an imbalance with TV regulations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/sep/26/digitalmedia.internet| title=Government to tighten up web controls |work=]| date= 26 September 2008|first=Mark|last=Sweney}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7644849.stm|title= The medium and the message|publisher=]|date =1 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jun/11/digitalmedia.media|title= Andy Burnham hints at tighter control of online content|work=The Guardian|first=Leigh |last=Holmwood|date= 11 June 2008}}</ref> This was followed by a speech to the UK music industry's lobbying group, UK Music, in which he announced a "a time that calls for partnership between Government and the music business as a whole: one with rewards for both of us; one with rewards for society as a whole. (...) My job&nbsp;– Government’s job&nbsp;– is to preserve the value in the system."<ref>{{dead link|date=April 2013}}</ref>


=== In Opposition === === In Opposition ===
Burnham became ] after ] and following the resignation of ]'s government.
⚫ Following the resignation of ] as Leader of the Labour Party after the ], Andy Burnham declared his intention to stand in the subsequent ].<ref>{{Cite web|title =Andy Burnham and Diane Abbott join Labour leadership race|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/7743790/Andy-Burnham-and-Diane-Abbott-join-Labour-leadership-race.html|work=Daily Telegraph|date=19 May 2010|accessdate=29 May 2010 | location=London| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100528025203/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/7743790/Andy-Burnham-and-Diane-Abbott-join-Labour-leadership-race.html| archivedate= 28 May 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no|postscript =<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref> He launched his leadership campaign in his Leigh constituency on 26 May.<ref> BBC News, 26 May 2010</ref> Burnham led on his philosophy of "aspirational socialism", aligning himself with ]'s campaign to end unpaid internships. He also made key policy commitments to the creation of a National Care Service and also called for inheritance tax to be replaced with a land value tax instead. The leadership contest was eventually won by ]. Burnham finished fourth.

⚫ Following Brown's further resignation as Leader of the Labour Party and as Prime Minister, Burnham declared his intention to stand in the subsequent ].<ref>{{Cite web|title =Andy Burnham and Diane Abbott join Labour leadership race|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/7743790/Andy-Burnham-and-Diane-Abbott-join-Labour-leadership-race.html|work=Daily Telegraph|date=19 May 2010|accessdate=29 May 2010 | location=London| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100528025203/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/7743790/Andy-Burnham-and-Diane-Abbott-join-Labour-leadership-race.html| archivedate= 28 May 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no|postscript =<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref> He launched his leadership campaign in his Leigh constituency on ].<ref> BBC News, 26 May 2010</ref> Burnham led on his philosophy of "aspirational socialism", aligning himself with ]'s campaign to end unpaid internships. He also made key policy commitments to the creation of a National Care Service and also called for inheritance tax to be replaced with a land value tax instead. The leadership contest was eventually won by ]. Burnham finished fourth with less than 9% of the total vote.

⚫ At the end of September 2010, Burnham openly criticised new Prime Minister ] for the ]-] ] Government's public spending cuts and health reforms to the NHS.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/01/nhs-reforms-andrew-lansley-andy-burnham|title=Health secretary rebuts Labour criticisms over NHS plans|work=The Guardian |date=1 October 2010 |accessdate=22 July 2013|first= Ramesh|last=Randeep}}</ref>


In October 2010, Burnham was appointed ] and Election Co-ordinator for the Labour Party. One day short of a year later, he was appointed again to his former role of Shadow Secretary of State for Health, and has held the role since 2011.
⚫ Burnham continued in his role as Shadow Health Secretary, and at the end of September 2010 he openly criticised new Prime Minister ] for the ]-] ] Government's public spending cuts and health reforms to the NHS.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/01/nhs-reforms-andrew-lansley-andy-burnham|title=Health secretary rebuts Labour criticisms over NHS plans|work=The Guardian |date=1 October 2010 |accessdate=22 July 2013|first= Ramesh|last=Randeep}}</ref> In 2011 Burnham was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Election Co-ordinator for the Labour Party.


== Political controversy == == Political controversy ==
Burnham was criticised during the 2010 election campaign after leaflets were sent to 250,000 women, some of them cancer patients, featuring a message from a breast cancer survivor who praised Labour's health policy. Burnham, the health secretary, denied that cancer patients had been targeted.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article7094604.ece | location=London | work=The Times | first1=Chris | last1=Hastings | first2=Maurice | last2=Chittenden | first3=Nyta | last3=Mann | title=Labour attacked over mailshot to cancer patients | date=11 April 2010}}</ref> Burnham was criticised during the 2010 election campaign after leaflets were sent to 250,000 women - some of which turned out to be cancer patients - featuring a message from a breast cancer survivor who praised Labour's health policy. Burnham, the then government Health Secretary, denied that specific cancer patients had been targeted.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article7094604.ece | location=London | work=The Times | first1=Chris | last1=Hastings | first2=Maurice | last2=Chittenden | first3=Nyta | last3=Mann | title=Labour attacked over mailshot to cancer patients | date=11 April 2010}}</ref>


In July 2013 the '']'' stated that Burnham's staff had edited his Misplaced Pages page to remove critical material. Burnham's office claimed that they had removed false statements that had been drawn to their attention.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10193346/Shadow-Health-Secretary-Andy-Burnhams-staff-deleted-negative-Misplaced Pages-references.html | location=London | work=The Telegraph | first1=Melanie | last1=Hall | title=Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham's staff deleted 'negative' Misplaced Pages references | date=21 July 2013}}</ref> In July 2013 the '']'' stated that Burnham's staff had edited his Misplaced Pages page to remove critical material. Burnham's office claimed that they had removed false statements that had been drawn to their attention.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10193346/Shadow-Health-Secretary-Andy-Burnhams-staff-deleted-negative-Misplaced Pages-references.html | location=London | work=The Telegraph | first1=Melanie | last1=Hall | title=Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham's staff deleted 'negative' Misplaced Pages references | date=21 July 2013}}</ref>


== Personal life == == Personal life ==
Burnham is married to Marie-France van Heel, whom he wed in 2000 after 11 years together.<ref name="Telegraph_15Oct07"/> The couple had been dating since university. The couple have a son and two daughters. Burnham is a ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Keep the faith, Andy Burnham tells NHS and Church |last=Merrick|first=Jane|work=]|accessdate=22 July 2013| url= http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/keep-the-faith-andy-burnham-tells-nhs-and-church-8547060.html| date= 24 March 2013}}</ref> Burnham is married to Marie-France van Heel since 2000, having been in a relationship for 11 years beforehand since university.<ref name="Telegraph_15Oct07"/> The couple have a son and two daughters, and Burnham is a ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Keep the faith, Andy Burnham tells NHS and Church |last=Merrick|first=Jane|work=]|accessdate=22 July 2013| url= http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/keep-the-faith-andy-burnham-tells-nhs-and-church-8547060.html| date= 24 March 2013}}</ref>


Burnham was the Honorary Chairman of ] for a short period of time. Burnham was also a talented junior cricketer (playing for ] Juniors) and keen footballer, and competed at both sports for his college. He has played for Labour's "Demon Eyes" football team and is a lifelong fan of ] football club ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2118788.stm|title=Andy Burnham|date=22 October 2002|publisher=]|accessdate=11 October 2008 | author=Labour MP}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/andy-burnham-the-mr-nice-guy-who-talked-his-way-into-a-nasty-situation-851018.html|title=Andy Burnham: The Mr Nice Guy who talked his way into a nasty situation|last=Brown|first=Colin|date=20 June 2008|work=]|publisher=]|accessdate=11 October 2008 | location=London}}</ref> Burnham was the Honorary Chairman of ] for a short period of time. Burnham was also a talented junior cricketer (playing for ] Juniors) and keen footballer, and competed at both sports for his college. He has played for Labour's "Demon Eyes" football team and is a lifelong fan of ] football club ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2118788.stm|title=Andy Burnham|date=22 October 2002|publisher=]|accessdate=11 October 2008 | author=Labour MP}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/andy-burnham-the-mr-nice-guy-who-talked-his-way-into-a-nasty-situation-851018.html|title=Andy Burnham: The Mr Nice Guy who talked his way into a nasty situation|last=Brown|first=Colin|date=20 June 2008|work=]|publisher=]|accessdate=11 October 2008 | location=London}}</ref>

Revision as of 00:13, 1 September 2013

This article is about the politician. For the Roman Catholic priest, see Andrew Burnham (priest).

The Right HonourableAndy BurnhamMP
Shadow Secretary of State for Health
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 October 2011
LeaderEd Miliband
Preceded byJohn Healey
Shadow Secretary of State for Education
In office
8 October 2010 – 7 October 2011
LeaderEd Miliband
Preceded byEd Balls
Succeeded byStephen Twigg
Secretary of State for Health
In office
5 June 2009 – 11 May 2010
Prime MinisterGordon Brown
Preceded byAlan Johnson
Succeeded byAndrew Lansley
Secretary of State for Culture,
Media and Sport
In office
24 January 2008 – 5 June 2009
Prime MinisterGordon Brown
Preceded byJames Purnell
Succeeded byBen Bradshaw
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
In office
28 June 2007 – 24 January 2008
Prime MinisterGordon Brown
Preceded byStephen Timms
Succeeded byYvette Cooper
Member of Parliament
for Leigh
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 June 2001
Preceded byLawrence Cunliffe
Majority15,011 (31.1%)
Personal details
Born (1970-01-07) 7 January 1970 (age 55)
Aintree, Lancashire, England
Political partyLabour
SpouseMarie-France van Heel
Alma materFitzwilliam College, Cambridge

Andrew Murray Burnham (born 7 January 1970) is a British Labour Party politician and the Member of Parliament for Leigh since 2001. He is currently Shadow Secretary of State for Health.

Burnham continuously held various Cabinet posts under the Premiership of Gordon Brown between 2007 to 2010, first as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, then Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Secretary of State for Health. He was a candidate in the 2010 Labour leadership election, coming fourth out of the five candidates with 8.68% of the vote.

Early life

Burnham was born in Old Roan in Aintree, Liverpool in 1970, the son of a telephone engineer father and a receptionist mother. He was also brought up in Culcheth, close to Warrington. He was educated at St. Lewis' Primary School and St Aelred's Roman Catholic High School, Newton-le-Willows and the University of Cambridge, where he read for an English degree at Fitzwilliam College.

Joining the Labour Party

Burnham joined the Labour Party aged 14 in 1984.

Burnham was a researcher to Tessa Jowell from 1994 until the 1997 election, and joined the Transport and General Workers' Union in 1995. After the 1997 election, he was briefly a Parliamentary Officer for the NHS Confederation from August to December 1997, before taking up the post as an administrator with the Football Task Force for a year.

In 1998, he became a Special Adviser to the then Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Chris Smith, a position he remained in until his election to Parliament in 2001.

Member of Parliament

After the retirement of Lawrence Cunliffe, Burnham applied to be the Parliamentary Candidate for the safe Labour seat of Leigh. Burnham managed to secure selection to contest the safe seat at the next General Election. At the 2001 election, he was elected with a majority of 16,362, and gave his maiden speech on 4 July 2001.

In Government

Following his election to Parliament, he became a member of the Health Select Committee from 2001 until 2003, when he was appointed the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Home Secretary David Blunkett. Following Blunkett's first resignation in 2004, he went on to become the PPS to Education Secretary Ruth Kelly. He was promoted to serve in the Government after the 2005 election as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, with responsibility for implementing the Identity Cards Act 2006.

In the government reshuffle of 5 May 2006, Burnham was promoted from the Home Office to a Minister of State at the Department of Health.

In Cabinet

In Gordon Brown's first Cabinet, announced 28 June 2007, Burnham was appointed as the new Chief Secretary to the Treasury, a position he held until 2008.

The Daily Telegraph published an interview with Burnham on 13 October 2007 in which he stated that: "I think it’s better when children are in a home where their parents are married" and "it’s not wrong that the tax system should recognise commitment and marriage", which created some controversy because following through this argument would replicate the current policies of the Conservative Party.

In a re-shuffle in January 2008, Burnham was promoted to the position of Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, replacing James Purnell. In June 2008, he had to apologise to the director of pressure group Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti, after she threatened to sue him for libel for smearing her reputation.

In late 2008, Burnham announced Government plans to crack down on the Internet, tightening up controls in order to "even up" what he claimed was an imbalance with TV regulations. This was followed by a speech to the UK music industry's lobbying group, UK Music, in which he announced a "a time that calls for partnership between Government and the music business as a whole: one with rewards for both of us; one with rewards for society as a whole. (...) My job – Government’s job – is to preserve the value in the system."

He was promoted again to become Secretary of State for Health in June 2009. He held the post until the then Labour Government resigned after the 2010 general election.

In Opposition

Burnham became Shadow Secretary of State for Health after May 2010 and following the resignation of Gordon Brown's government.

Following Brown's further resignation as Leader of the Labour Party and as Prime Minister, Burnham declared his intention to stand in the subsequent leadership contest. He launched his leadership campaign in his Leigh constituency on 26 May. Burnham led on his philosophy of "aspirational socialism", aligning himself with Intern Aware's campaign to end unpaid internships. He also made key policy commitments to the creation of a National Care Service and also called for inheritance tax to be replaced with a land value tax instead. The leadership contest was eventually won by Ed Miliband. Burnham finished fourth with less than 9% of the total vote.

At the end of September 2010, Burnham openly criticised new Prime Minister David Cameron for the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government's public spending cuts and health reforms to the NHS.

In October 2010, Burnham was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Election Co-ordinator for the Labour Party. One day short of a year later, he was appointed again to his former role of Shadow Secretary of State for Health, and has held the role since 2011.

Political controversy

Burnham was criticised during the 2010 election campaign after leaflets were sent to 250,000 women - some of which turned out to be cancer patients - featuring a message from a breast cancer survivor who praised Labour's health policy. Burnham, the then government Health Secretary, denied that specific cancer patients had been targeted.

In July 2013 the Daily Telegraph stated that Burnham's staff had edited his Misplaced Pages page to remove critical material. Burnham's office claimed that they had removed false statements that had been drawn to their attention.

Personal life

Burnham is married to Marie-France van Heel since 2000, having been in a relationship for 11 years beforehand since university. The couple have a son and two daughters, and Burnham is a Roman Catholic.

Burnham was the Honorary Chairman of Leigh Rugby League Club for a short period of time. Burnham was also a talented junior cricketer (playing for Lancashire CCC Juniors) and keen footballer, and competed at both sports for his college. He has played for Labour's "Demon Eyes" football team and is a lifelong fan of Premier League football club Everton.

References

  1. "Andy's biography from his Andy4Leader web-site".
  2. "[ARCHIVED CONTENT] Biography of Andy Burnham : Department of Health — About us". Webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  3. New Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport BACTA, 28 January 2008
  4. Woodward, Will (26 January 2008). "New culture secretary keeps an open mind on licence fee". The Guardian. London: Guardian News & Media. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. "House of Commons Hansard; vol 371, part 14, col 333". Hansard. Parliament of the United Kingdom. 4 July 2001. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
  6. ^ Sylvester, Rachel (15 October 2007). "Marriage is important, children do notice". Telegraph.co.uk. London: Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 12 October 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. Sometimes a problem really is an opportunity. . . for others Times Online, 25 January 2008
  8. Percival, Jenny (23 June 2008). "Chakrabarti-Davis row: Liberty head accepts letter of apology from Burnham". guardian.co.uk. London: Guardian News & Media. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
  9. Sweney, Mark (26 September 2008). "Government to tighten up web controls". The Guardian.
  10. "The medium and the message". BBC News. 1 October 2008.
  11. Holmwood, Leigh (11 June 2008). "Andy Burnham hints at tighter control of online content". The Guardian.
  12. Andy Burnham and Charlie McCreevy speak at UK Music's first creators' conference
  13. "Andy Burnham and Diane Abbott join Labour leadership race". Daily Telegraph. London. 19 May 2010. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2010Template:Inconsistent citations {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  14. Burnham seeks to stand out from leadership crowd BBC News, 26 May 2010
  15. Randeep, Ramesh (1 October 2010). "Health secretary rebuts Labour criticisms over NHS plans". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  16. Hastings, Chris; Chittenden, Maurice; Mann, Nyta (11 April 2010). "Labour attacked over mailshot to cancer patients". The Times. London.
  17. Hall, Melanie (21 July 2013). "Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham's staff deleted 'negative' Misplaced Pages references". The Telegraph. London.
  18. Merrick, Jane (24 March 2013). "Keep the faith, Andy Burnham tells NHS and Church". The Independent. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  19. Labour MP (22 October 2002). "Andy Burnham". BBC News. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
  20. Brown, Colin (20 June 2008). "Andy Burnham: The Mr Nice Guy who talked his way into a nasty situation". The Independent. London: Independent News & Media. Retrieved 11 October 2008.

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