Andy Burnham's deeply held Catholic faith is expected to shape his approach to governing as he prepares to enter Downing Street, according to Richard Moth, the Archbishop of Westminster and leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. His impending premiership marks a significant moment, nearly 500 years after Henry VIII's break from Rome.
Archbishop Moth suggested that Burnham, like any person of faith, would draw upon his beliefs in his role. "As a Catholic, a Christian, one thinks out of that space, if you like, and that informs conscience, it informs the way we think about things," Moth stated.
Burnham, who was born on Merseyside and educated in Catholic schools, has spoken previously about the importance of his faith. In a 2009 interview with The Guardian, he listed "Everton FC, the Labour Party and the Catholic church - in that order" as the three most important things in his life outside of family. While his religiosity appeared to fluctuate in 2015, he emphasized his belief in the values imparted by his Catholic upbringing and stated that "Catholic social teaching underpins my politics."
His entry into Number 10 will present some constitutional considerations. The Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829 bars individuals from advising the King on Church of England appointments, with violations deemed a high misdemeanor. However, this is largely a procedural formality that can be addressed by delegating such duties to another government minister, a scenario previously encountered when Boris Johnson served as prime minister.
Burnham, who is set to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader, shared a clip of Archbishop Moth discussing faith on the BBC's "Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg." The Archbishop expressed hope that Burnham's premiership would reflect a strong concern for humanity, extending from large-scale issues to the needs of families and the homeless.
Boris Johnson, who was baptized into his mother's Catholic faith as an infant and later confirmed into the Church of England, was reported to have "reverted" to Catholicism when he married Carrie Symonds at Westminster Cathedral in 2021. However, he rarely discussed his faith publicly during his time as prime minister. Tony Blair, who did not discuss religion while in office, famously converted to Catholicism shortly after leaving Downing Street, a decision he attributed to his wife, Cherie.