Why Burnham’s casual dress sense is smart politics
Jawad Iqbal
Why Burnham’s casual dress sense is smart politics
- Monday, June 22, 2026, 7:14 AM
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Jawad Iqbal
Why Burnham’s casual dress sense is smart politics
It is time to talk about the real Andy Burnham and what he cares about most. In other words, let the discussion begin on his choice of clothing. What Burnham lacks in detailed policies and deeply-held political principles he more than makes up with a wardrobe overflowing with ideas on what to wear and when.
Burnham’s wardrobe is all about telling put-upon voters everywhere that he is grounded and relatable
The King of the North has spent the last decade or so away from Westminster thinking deeply (more deeply than he cares to admit) about things like bomber jackets and T-shirts. Andy now reaches places that the bog standard male politician (dressed in ill-fitting dark suit, pale shirt and dull tie) can only dream of.
This weekend, while there was political turmoil in Downing Street and Westminster, a relaxed Burnham was to be found strutting his stuff in the streets of Cheshire, his well-manicured feet finely dressed in Birkenstock shoes. Birkenstocks (as surely everyone knows) stand for utilitarian and comfortable design over traditional beauty. What could be more Burnham than this?
When celebrating his victory a few days earlier in the Makerfield by-election, our would-be PM opted for white zip-up polo shirt, indigo jeans and a pair of brown trainers. Choices, choices and more choices.
Burnham’s recent fashion statements have included going for a run in too-short shorts and jogging trainers, prompting much ignorant comment about how much thigh is acceptable for a middle-aged politician to display. This is to misunderstand fundamentally the fashion moment we are living through: 1980s vintage Everton tops are all the rage in social circles that still remember an era when the club actually competed for the big trophies. As for his fiv-inch inseam Adidas running shorts, what confident working-class hero wouldn’t opt to show a little leg in the appropriate setting?
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My night with Woah VickyBurnham’s wardrobe is all about telling put-upon voters everywhere that he is grounded and relatable, just an ordinary northern bloke making his way in life.
His much recycled black-on-black look might be described by some as lacking in imagination, others have even hinted that it is altogether creepy, but that is to miss the point. This is a look that fashion aficionados would lovingly describe as “understated”. It has included, at different times, black bomber jackets, black jumpers with (scandalously) no shirt underneath, and black T-shirts. For added measure and true working-class authenticity, he has been known to throw in the odd workwear jacket. This is to reach almost stratospheric levels of non-conformity, radicalism with a small r, and all without having to say a word about anything as dull as actual policy. Eat your heart out, Keir Starmer.
All of this is a long way from the “suited and booted” Burnham of the Blair years. In that period, he would never be caught dead in anything but suit and tie. He admitted in 2015 to buying Armani suits (no C&A or Topman fabrics for this self-respecting tribune of the workers).
Even so, Burnham was careful to add the rider that his suits were bought in the Boxing Day sales, proving to himself and others that he remains a man of the people. In a newspaper interview in 2022, he said of his suit and tie period in Westminster: “I remember, when I left, slowly realising: ‘I don’t have to do this anymore…it was an evolution and I’m not going back.’”
There speaks a politician who isn’t afraid to make the really big decisions. I defy anyone reading this to suggest that Burnham is anything less than a deep thinker, open to new ideas and decisive when it comes to the important things in life.
Envious Labour politicians, many of whom slogged away in Westminster for years while Burnham moved north to try out a new range in clothing, would be wise to buck up their ideas. When Burnham enters Number Ten (as he must surely do) it won’t be a case of filling his cabinet with the brightest and the best. The real test will come down to who is wearing what fashion label and why.
Ministers will have to rid themselves of any outfits that could be interpreted as representing the cosy and outdated Westminster establishment. A mass burning of suits and ties will be in order to make plain that the government is on the side of “working people”. Or perhaps Burnham, ever the shape-shifter, will confuse everyone one more time by turning up in Downing Street in a suit and tie. It wouldn’t be the first or the last time that the King of the Catwalk simply changed his mind about who he is and what he believes.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
