Andy Burnham cancels engagements following death of his father

Mr Burnham has spoken about his father’s illness, which meant that he did not know his son had become Prime Minister.

The experience is one of the driving factors in the Prime Minister’s aim to reform the social care system.

Mr Burnham had been due to host business leaders in No 10 on Monday afternoon.

In an interview with The Times on the eve of taking office in July, Mr Burnham revealed the extent of his father’s illness.

He said his father was unaware that he was on the brink of power.

“That’s a sadness because he would be (proud),” Mr Burnham said.

“The way I look at it, it’s his achievement as well.

“A whole family achievement although he doesn’t know it.”

In a major speech about reform of social care later that month, Mr Burnham promised to help “my dad and the millions like him” faced with the unfairness of the current system.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch offered her condolences to the Prime Minister and his family.

“No matter how old you are, or how much you try to prepare, losing your father is a profoundly painful experience,” she said.

“A part of your life that has always been there is suddenly gone forever and it can feel as though a part of you won’t ever be the same again.”

Communities Secretary Angela Rayner said: “My thoughts are with Andy and his family at this terribly difficult – and sad time.”

In this House of Commons, Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle offered his condolences to Mr Burnham, adding: “I am sure the whole House will want to send our best wishes to him and his family at this sad time.”

Lucy Powell, the Education Secretary, said: “I’m sure the whole House will want to send our deepest condolences to the Prime Minister on this saddest of days – and to his wonderful mum Eileen, his brothers Nick and John, all the grandchildren, and the whole family.”

Mr Burnham’s father, who was in his mid-80s, was a former telephone engineer, first with the Post Office and then with BT.

He and the Prime Minister’s mother Eileen brought him up in Culcheth, Cheshire, alongside his two brothers.

The Prime Minister described his “close-knit” upbringing in the 70s and 80s in his book Head North.

In the 2024 book, co-written with Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram, Mr Burnham wrote: “Neither my dad, Roy, nor my mum, Eileen, went to university.

“But both could have done if they had grown up in a different time and in a different place.

“Their knowledge of that fact seemed to make them all the more determined that their three sons would go. But that did not make them pushy parents in any way.

“Their approach was one of quiet encouragement and confidence-building. Our family home in Culcheth was always full of music, life, laughter, love and support.”

Paul Edwards, chief nursing officer at Dementia UK, said by sharing his own experience, Mr Burnham had “helped shine an important light on the profound impact that dementia can have on the whole family, as well as the urgent need to improve dementia care and support”.

He added: “We’re deeply sorry to hear that Prime Minister, Andy Burnham’s father, Roy Burnham, has died having lived with Alzheimer’s disease. Our thoughts are with him and his family during this difficult time.

“The Prime Minister spoke candidly about his family’s experience with dementia and the challenges they faced securing the care and support they needed.”