Andrew Burnham
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Andrew Burnham MP | |
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| In office 2001 – present |
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| Preceded by | Lawrence Cunliffe |
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| Succeeded by | Incumbent |
| Constituency | Leigh |
| Majority | 16,362 |
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| Born | January 7, 1970 |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Marie-France Van Heel |
| Children | a son and two daughters |
| Website | Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Andrew Burnham MP |
Andrew Murray Burnham (born January 7, 1970) is a British politician. He is the Labour Member of Parliament for the Greater Manchester constituency of Leigh and is Minister of State at the Department of Health.
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[edit] Early life
Andy Burnham was born in Liverpool, the son of a telephone engineer, and raised in Culcheth in Warrington, close to the Village of Lowton (which is at the Southern end of the Leigh Parliamentary Constituency). He was educated at St Aelred's Roman Catholic High School in Newton-le-Willows and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge from where he was awarded a degree in English.
[edit] Political Beginnings
He joined the Labour Party aged just 14 in 1984 during the miners strike, and was a researcher to Tessa Jowell MP from 1994 until after the 1997 General Election. He joined the Transport and General Workers Union in 1995. After the 1997 election he was briefly a parliamentary officer for the NHS Confederation, before taking up the post as an administrator with the Football Task Force for a year. In 1998 he became a special advisor to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Chris Smith, where he remained until his election to parliament. He joined the UNISON trade union in 2000.
[edit] Entering Parliament
Andy Burnham contested the safe Labour seat of Leigh at the 2001 General Election following the retirement of Lawrence Cunliffe. He was elected with a majority of 16,362, and gave his maiden speech on July 4, 2001 [1].
[edit] Government Jobs
Following his election to parliament, Andy Burnham became a Member of the Department of Health Select Committee from 2001 until 2003, when he was appointed the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Home Secretary David Blunkett. Following Blunkett's first resignation in 2004 he became the PPS to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Ruth Kelly. He was promoted to serve in Tony Blair's government after the 2005 General Election as the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibility for identity cards legislation.
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.
[edit] Family
Andy Burnham married Marie-France Van Heel in 2000 and they have a son and two daughters. He is the Chairman of Leigh Rugby League Club and a supporter of Everton Football Club.
