Locals have called into question Burnham’s routes.
Andy Burnham’s working class background has been called into question (Image: Getty)
Locals have called into question Andy Burnham’s working-class roots as he bids for No 10. The 56-year-old politician, who has served as Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017, is expected to challenge Keir Starmer for the leadership of the Labour Party, meaning he has quickly become a household name across the country. In the past, Burnham has previously spoken of his roots in Manchester, but some have argued that they are not fully convinced.
One local woman, 78-year-old Enid Hill, said that she believed that Burnham is “taking us for idiots”. She told the Daily Mail: “I might have been born in a council house but I’m not stupid. He is obviously not from round here. Where he’s from, where he grew up, is posh.”
One of Enid’s neighbours on Park View described Culcheth, where Burnham grew up, as a “different world”.
It comes after Burnham was spotted by Enid and her neighbours filming a campaign video on their street as he aims to be Labour MP for Makerfield in next month’s by-election.
In the town of Culcheth, locals told the Daily Mail how the Burnham’s house was one of the nicest in the village. Having gone through many changes since Andy Burnham lived there as a youth, it is now worth over £1 million.
Local man Ian Riley said of the politician, who is in the running to be the next PM to replace Keir Starmer: “They are a good family. I bumped into Andy in Sainsbury’s when he was still in government and it was nice that he addressed me with “Hello, sir”.
“I don’t agree with his politics, but I think he’s the right man to lead the Labour Party.”
Another said: “The Burnham brothers were hardly street urchins. I remember seeing Andy marching down to the village green with his cricket bat.”
A recent YouGov survey showed that 31% of Britons feel that Burnham looks like a prime minister in waiting, while 27% disagree.
Some respondents to that survey shared their thoughts on Burnham. One said: “He has a humble background, he sees impoverished and deprived areas and how it affects the wider community and wants to change it. He is in touch with the people, he’s in touch with reality and doesn’t live in a dream world.”
Another shared: “Andy Burnham typifies modern politicians who put style and personality over belief in what they stand for.”