Roy Burnham, the father of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, has died, Downing Street confirmed on Monday. The Prime Minister has canceled his planned meetings for Monday and Tuesday following the news.
Shortly before assuming the role of Prime Minister, Mr. Burnham spoke about the personal sadness that his father, who was living with Alzheimer's, would not be aware of his son's ascent to the nation's highest office. He visited his father in a care home just before taking office.
"That's a sadness because he would be (proud)," Mr. Burnham stated in July. "The way I look at it, it's his achievement as well. A whole family achievement although he doesn't know it."
Mr. Burnham has frequently cited his father's Alzheimer's diagnosis, the most common form of dementia, as a significant motivation behind his commitment to reforming the social care system. In a major speech shortly after becoming Prime Minister, he vowed to advocate for "my dad and the millions like him" who face inequities within the current system.