Andy Burnham’s Catholic identity in spotlight as he prepares to take office as UK Prime Minister – EWTN Great Britain

As the UK prepares to choose its seventh prime minister in a decade, how could Andy Burnham’s Catholic roots affect his leadership?

By Elliot Hartley, July 17, 2026 – EWTN News

LONDON — Andy Burnham was officially named leader of Britain’s ruling Labor Party on July 17, paving the way for him to become the first U.K. prime minister to take office publicly identifying as Catholic.

Following the resignation of the Prime Minister Keir Starmer on June 22, Burnham became the leading contender to replace him.

Previous prime ministers have had ties to the Catholic faith, although none of them began their term as a practicing Catholic. Tony Blair, Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007, converted to Catholicism after leaving office. Boris Johnson, Prime Minister from 2019 to 2022, although baptized Catholic as a child, entered Downing Street as an Anglican.

Burnham, who was sworn in on a Bible as a new MP on June 22, described his Catholic faith as “not very showy”, developer The Guardian in 2009: “Three things are important in my life outside the family: Everton [Football Club]the Labor Party and the Catholic Church – in that order.

This appointment could also raise a constitutional question regarding his role in episcopal appointments.

At stake is a historic British law known as the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 (also called the Catholic Emancipation Act). It grants Catholics the right to sit in Parliament and hold most public offices, but does not allow them to advise the crown on Church of England episcopal appointments. How this provision may operate in modern constitutional practice remains controversial.

Jon Tonge, professor of politics at the University of Liverpool, told EWTN News: “Legally, Burnham would be prohibited from advising the monarch on [Church of England] bishops. The law has not been repealed. The Lord Chancellor will provide advice.

Catholicism à la carte

Tonge continues: “Even if he is not a regular at mass, [Burnham] sent his children to Catholic schools… It is an “à la carte” Catholicism, which ignores social conservatism (opposition to homosexual marriage or abortion, for example) and attempts to apply the principles of Catholic social teaching to politics. Equality, fairness, justice and helping those most in need are at the heart of this issue – hence Burnham’s commitment to tackling homelessness in Greater Manchester and dedicating part of his salary to the cause.

Burnham said he was raised with a “live and let live” approach, something that has shaped his stance on politics. He supports abortion And same-sex marriage and is in favor of assisted suicide for terminally ill adults, positions that are not consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Andrea Williams, executive director of Christian Concern, told EWTN News: “I don’t see anything overtly Christian in his message. [Burnham’s] policies. A person who professes and confesses his faith will always defend marriage between a man and a woman, will not defend trans ideology in law and in politics… He is pro-assisted suicide, he is pro-liberalization of abortion. So it doesn’t really fit with his faith.

In 2023, Burnham delighted Pope Francis at the Vatican when he presented the pontiff with a jersey signed by fellow Argentinean Manchester United player Lisandro Martinez. After Francis’ death, Burnham described the meeting as the “most moving” experience of his life – although he has already pressured the Pope to bring in the Catholic Church”in the 21 century» on issues such as LGBT rights.

Growing up in the 1980s in Warrington, Burnham attended St. Aelred’s Catholic High School and was raised in the Catholic faith of his Irish mother, Eileen. She said in a 2015 interview: “You should have seen the fights he and his brothers had on Sundays. They were all altar boys, but Andy must have been the one standing in the front, holding the communion plate.”

Burnham married Marie-France van Heel in 2000 after meeting at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University in 1989, and they have three adult children.

This story was updated at 2:45 p.m. ET on July 17, 2026, with a change in the headline and first paragraph to reflect Burnham’s election as leader of the Labor Party.