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Burnham set to become first PM since 1902 not to hold great office of state
Andy Burnham with colleagues from the Parliamentary Labour Party in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament in central London, as he returns to the House of Commons to take up his seat after winning the Makerfield by-election, June 22, 2026
ANDY Burnham would become the first prime minister since 1902 never to have held one of the great offices of state or been leader of the opposition if he wins the Labour leadership race.
Before leaving Westminster to become Greater Manchester mayor he had Cabinet posts as health secretary, culture secretary and Treasury chief secretary.
But he had never held the post of chancellor, foreign secretary and home secretary, considered one of the great offices of state alongside the prime minister.
And he had never been leader of the opposition during Labour’s time in the wilderness, failing twice to get that job after losing to Ed Miliband in 2010 and Jeremy Corbyn in 2015.
The last prime minister never to have held one of the great offices of state or having been leader or the opposition was Arthur Balfour.
The Conservative became prime minister in 1902 without holding any of those posts.
But he did live in 10 Downing Street as first lord of the Treasury, a title usually held by the prime minister, under the premiership of his uncle Lord Salisbury.
