Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Health in October 2011.

He was formerly Shadow Secretary of State for Education, and from June 2009 to May 2010 was the Secretary of State for Health. He is the MP for Leigh in Greater Manchester, elected in June 2001.

Prior to that Andy was Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (January 2008 to June 2009); Chief Secretary to the Treasury (June 2007 to January 2008); Minister of State for Delivery and Reform at the Department of Health (May 2006 to June 2007); Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality at the Home Office (2005-06) and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Ruth Kelly, Transport Secretary (2004) and David Blunkett, Home Secretary (2003-04). He was also a member of the Health Select Committee (2001-03).

Previous posts include Special Adviser to Chris Smith, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1998-2001); administrator for the Football Task Force (1998); Parliamentary Officer at the NHS Confederation (1997); and Researcher to Tessa Jowell MP (1994-97).

Born in Liverpool, Andy was educated in Merseyside at St Aelred's Roman Catholic High School and gained an MA in English at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.