Editor's note, added 19 June 2026: Andy Burnham has won the by-election in Makerfield. Earlier this week, we published a piece by James Mildred in which he reflected on Burnham's stance on key issues and what he's said about Christianity – as well as another potential candidate for PM, Wes Streeting.
It seems clear that if Andy Burnham wins the by-election in Makerfield on 18 June, he will challenge Keir Starmer to be Prime Minister.
We also know that Wes Streeting, the former Health Secretary, will stand. These are the two "definites" – there may of course be others.
So, what relationship does each have to Christianity? What is their position on some key issues? (Please note: this list is limited to a few "hot button" issues and not wholly representative of their policy views!)
Here is a short summary for the two leading contenders to be Britain’s next PM.
1 Andy Burnham
What has he said about Christianity?
In 2015, he gave an interview for Huffington Post where he said he had lost his Catholic faith because of the Church’s "obsession with sexuality".
He said: “I’m a Catholic by upbringing, but I’m not particularly religious now. But because of my background, when I voted it always caused a kind of tension in terms of people I know, friends, family so I do find it fairly hurtful when people accuse me of lacking commitment [to gay rights—he once voted for an amendment seeking to put a named father on IVF registrations].”
What are his views on some key issues?
He has identified as a socialist and is generally seen as being on the soft left of the party. He has talked about being in favour of an "aspirational socialism" which is redistributive, collectivist and internationalist.
More specifically, Burnham is in favour of assisted suicide for terminally ill adults. He abstained on the issue in 2015 when the Commons voted, but in 2024 said his stance had changed.
After some confusion, he did recently back the new Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance on single-sex spaces which says toilets and changing rooms must be used on the basis of sex.
On an issue like gambling, he has led coalitions calling for tighter regulation of the gambling industry and he has also said he supports an age-limit of 16 for social media use and a ban on phones in schools.
On immigration, Burnham is reportedly set to back the current changes made by the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. On child poverty, he has called the two-child benefit limit the "worst of Westminster".
2 Wes Streeting
What has he said about Christianity?
As a practising Anglican, Streeting has been open about his faith, and his struggles to reconcile traditional church teaching on human sexuality with his own same-sex-attraction. (He is engaged to his long-term male partner). However, he has defended traditional, orthodox doctrines like the virgin birth and the bodily resurrection of Christ.
What does he think about some key issues?
Streeting is judged to be on the right of the Labour Party although he personally rejects being labelled a "Blairite". In recent weeks, he has said the UK should re-join the European Union and has called for a wealth tax as well.
In recent years, Streeting has been a vocal opponent of Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide bill. He publicly warned that there was no new money to pay for assisted suicide services and, therefore, funds would need to be transferred from other frontline NHS services if parliament voted for assisted suicide legislation and it received royal assent.
On trans issues, at one time he was publicly very supportive of trans rights and said, "trans women are women and trans men are men". However, in more recent times his position seems to have shifted. In May 2024, when asked if a transgender woman is a woman, he said “men have penises, women have [vaginas]; here ends my biology lesson”.
On immigration, Streeting has said he finds elements of the Labour government’s plans uncomfortable, especially deporting families, but overall seems to support the tougher approach taken under Shabana Mahmood. In his resignation speech, Streeting set out his fears about rising nationalism and the need for the UK to remain an outward looking country.
On child poverty, Streeting has called the two-child benefit cap a "terrible policy" and supported it being scrapped.
A concluding thought
I hope this summary is helpful.
Whoever becomes the next leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom faces unprecedented challenges because we are living in complex and turbulent times.
Whether we agree or disagree with their politics and policies, as Christians, we should acknowledge it when they do good and speak out when they do what is wrong.
Above all, we must commit to praying for them in all seasons (1 Timothy 2v1-4), because we know this pleases God our Saviour.
To govern is to choose
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