Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s father, Roy Burnham, has died at the age of 86, with reports saying he had been living with Alzheimer’s disease. Multiple outlets say the illness meant Roy was not aware that his son had become prime minister.
In the days after his death, Burnham cancels official engagements, including a meeting with business leaders and a speech at the TUC, according to several reports. Metro and HuffPost UK describe Burnham posting a message of thanks to members of the public and leaders of other parties for their condolences, saying his family has been supported during the period.
Outlets also include context about Burnham previously discussing the personal impact of having a parent with Alzheimer’s. Several sources link that experience to his stated motivation to reform social care, describing his efforts to change the system. Sympathy messages from senior politicians across parties are also reported, though outlets vary in which figures they highlight and how much detail they provide about his schedule and return to work.
