Andrew Burnham
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| The Right Honourable Andrew Burnham MP |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 24 January 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
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| Preceded by | James Purnell |
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| In office 28 June 2007 – 24 January 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | Stephen Timms |
| Succeeded by | Yvette Cooper |
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Member of Parliament
for Leigh |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 7 June 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Lawrence Cunliffe |
| Majority | 17,272 (47.3%) |
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| Born | Liverpool, England January 7, 1970 |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Marie-France Van Heel |
| Alma mater | Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge |
| Religion | Roman Catholic[1] |
Andrew Murray Burnham MP (born January 7, 1970), usually known as Andy Burnham, is a British politician. He is the Labour Member of Parliament for the Greater Manchester constituency of Leigh and has been Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport since January 24, 2008.
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[edit] Early life
Andy Burnham was born in Liverpool, the son of a telephone engineer, and raised in Culcheth, 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 (now St Aelred's Catholic Technology College) on Birley Street in Newton-le-Willows and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge from where he was awarded an MA (Hons) in English.
[edit] Joining the Labour Party
He joined the Labour Party at the age of 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 from August until December 1997, before taking up the post as an administrator with the Football Task Force[2] 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] Member of 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.[3]
[edit] 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 (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] In cabinet
In Gordon Brown's first cabinet announced 28 June 2007, Burnham was promoted to Chief Secretary to the Treasury, despite having no background in economics or finance.
Burnham was alleged to have caused embarrassment to the Government in August 2007 by attacking the Conservative party's Economic Competitiveness report before admitting in an interview that he had not read the report.[4]
The Daily Telegraph published an interview[5] 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, the official opposition in the UK.
In the January 2008 re-shuffle he was made Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.[6]
A strategy paper published at the end of February 2008 by Burnham's department, called for internet service providers to bar customers who use their accounts to download pirated material.
[edit] Personal life
Burnham married Marie-France van Heel in 2000 after 11 years,[5] and their son attended the wedding. The couple had been dating since University. Van Heel, formerly head of marketing at MTV, BSkyB and Littlewoods Gaming is now the Planning Director at Creative Communication Agency WRG in Manchester, and they have a son and two daughters.
Burnham was the honorary Chairman of Leigh Rugby League Club for a short period of time. Burnham was also a talented junior cricketer and keen footballer, and competed at both sports for his College. He still plays for the House of Commons Football Team[7] and is a life-long fan of Premier League football club Everton FC.[8]
He is Roman Catholic.[9]
[edit] References
- ^ While Blair converts to Catholicism, only 8 Ministers say they believe in God.
- ^ Football Task Force - "launched by labour to recommend reforms to the game" Source: The Guardian 26 January 2008, Pge 21 "New Culture Secretary keeps an open mind on licence fee."
- ^ Extract from Hansard.
- ^ "Battle ahead over IHT", Money Marketing, August 20 2007.
- ^ a b Rachel Sylvester and Alice Thomson "Marriage is important, children do notice", Daily Telegraph, 13 October 2007. Retrieved on 13 October 2007.
- ^ Times Commentary 25 Jan 2008
- ^ Meet Britain’s New Culture Minister Andy Burnham.
- ^ Culture Secretary is a Blue, Scott Mcleod, EvertonFC.com, February 11 2008
- ^ While Blair converts to Catholicism, only 8 Ministers say they believe in God.
[edit] External links
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Andrew Burnham MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Andy Burnham MP
- Voting record at the Public Whip
- BBC Politics page
[edit] Audio clips
[edit] Video clips
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
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| Preceded by Lawrence Cunliffe |
Member of Parliament for Leigh 2001 – present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Stephen Timms |
Chief Secretary to the Treasury 2007–2008 |
Succeeded by Yvette Cooper |
| Preceded by James Purnell |
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 2008 – present |
Incumbent |
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