Andy Burnham, who became the mayor of Greater Manchester in 2017, has made clear his intention to lead Labour. LONDON: After spending decades in British politics, Andy Burnham now appears closer than ever to the top job. The former Greater Manchester mayor has emerged as the frontrunner to become Britain’s next prime minister after Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday (Jun 22), triggering a leadership contest that could reshape the Labour Party and the country’s political direction.