I told you all about Starmer and that he would be gone by May (the decision was made 05/29/2026. I told you Burnham was coming.
Now for Mr Burnham.
PM Andy Burnham served as a minister under Blair and Brown, overseeing policies like NHS privatization through Private Financial Initiatives (PFI) contracts, loading public funded institutions with private investment debt. Burnham admitted in 2012 and 2015 that Labour’s PFI deals were "poor value for money" and acknowledged that the government "made mistakes" with the contracts.
The PFI contracts signed under his tenure have saddled NHS trusts with massive debts; for instance, the Royal Liverpool Hospital deal was estimated to cost £1 billion versus £624 million for public procurement, and Peterborough City Hospital accumulated a £45.8 million deficit due to the deal.
As Greater Manchester Mayor, Burnham’s policy agenda includes buying out existing PFI contracts where borrowing rates make it advantageous, though legal experts note his past reliance on PFI/PPP models creates a complex legacy regarding his current infrastructure renewal plans.
Burnham has described himself as a "aspirational socialist."