Minister for the Union
Responsibilities
As Minister for the Union, the Prime Minister works to ensure that all of government is acting on behalf of the entire United Kingdom: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Current role holder
The Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP
Andy Burnham became Prime Minister on 20 July 2026.Â
Andy was elected Member of Parliament for Leigh in June 2001. He served in government between 2007 and 2010 as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and Secretary of State for Health.Â
In opposition, he served as Shadow Secretary of State for Health, Shadow Secretary of State for Education, and Shadow Home Secretary.
Andy was elected Mayor of Greater Manchester in May 2017, and re-elected in 2021 and 2024. As Mayor, he brought the bus network back under public control and oversaw Manchester becoming the fastest growing city-region in the UK.Â
He returned to Parliament as Member of Parliament for Makerfield in June 2026, and was elected Leader of the Labour Party on 16 July 2026.Â
Andy is married and has three children.
Previous holders of this role
The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP
2024 to 2026
The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP
2022 to 2024
The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss
2022 to 2022
The Rt Hon Boris Johnson
2019 to 2022