Britain’s new Prime Minister once lived in Formby

When Andy Burnham officially becomes the UK’s new Prime Minister on Monday, many people will be surprised to learn that he once called Formby home.

Although born on 7 January 1970 in Old Roan, Burnham spent the first year of his life living with his family at 44 Marina Road, Formby before they moved to Culcheth near Warrington.

In his own words, Burnham recalled: “We then lived in Formby for a year, Marina Road, number 44 again, I think.”

His parents, Roy and Eileen Burnham, both worked for the old Post Office telephone service. Roy was a telephone engineer and Eileen a telephone operator, and the couple first met while working at Maghull Telephone Exchange.

The family left Formby after Roy was promoted to a role in Manchester city centre. Rather than move into the city, they chose to settle in Culcheth, where Burnham spent the rest of his childhood.

Despite leaving Formby at such a young age, Burnham has often spoken about how his Merseyside roots shaped him. He has described growing up influenced by Liverpool culture, his lifelong support of Everton Football Club and the impact that stories from Merseyside had on his political outlook.

Now, more than five decades after living in Formby as a baby, Andy Burnham is preparing to move into Number 10 Downing Street as Britain’s new Prime Minister.

Whatever your political views, it is not every day that someone with such a direct connection to Formby reaches the highest office in the country.