In the summer of 2010, weeks after Labour's electoral defeat, Andy Burnham, then a shadow health secretary, presented a public persona that was both confident and keen to connect with celebrity culture. In an interview conducted by Katie Hind for a tabloid newspaper, Burnham discussed his personal life, including a history of numerous girlfriends and an apparent interest in his public image.
During the interview, Burnham reportedly boasted about his popularity with women in his youth and how this history occasionally resurfaced when he encountered former girlfriends during canvassing. He even invited Hind to examine his eyelashes, a feature he had nicknamed himself "the Make-Up Minister" for, with Hind noting it appeared he was familiar with makeup.
Burnham also spoke about his celebrity connections, naming David Beckham, Simon Cowell, and Wayne Rooney as acquaintances. The article notes that he continued to engage with celebrities, campaigning with actors Hugh Grant and Steve Coogan, and having friendships with football figures like Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville. His musical tastes and connections were also highlighted, with mentions of Oasis singer Liam Gallagher, Elbow's Guy Garvey, and New Order.
At the time, Burnham was in the running to replace Gordon Brown as the leader of the Labour Party, competing against candidates including Ed and David Miliband. The interview also touched on his past social life, including experiences at Manchester's Hacienda nightclub, where he stated he was there for the music and alcohol and was "never the most sober at the party."
Following his unsuccessful leadership bid, Burnham reportedly planned Ed Miliband's stag do, suggesting a pub crawl along the Circle Line of the London Underground. The journalist noted that even then, Burnham seemed to possess a significant ambition, with the keys to Downing Street appearing as a distant goal.