Andy Burnham began the day he became Prime Minister by visiting a Catholic-founded homelessness charity, as he pledged to end rough sleeping.
He met the team at The Passage in Westminster, which takes its ethos from Christian social reformer St Vincent De Paul.
Burnham had told The Times that his mother would be “wearing her rosary beads out” as he stood on the steps of Downing Street. In an interview yesterday, the new leader said he does not regularly attend Mass but still professes the Catholic faith.
Lord Marvin Rees, a Labour peer, told Premier Christian News that Burnham would have a “ferocious focus on delivery”, given his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester.
He believed there is a role for the church in Burnham’s plans to take power out of Whitehall and “carry it into every postcode in the land”. The former Mayor of Bristol recounted his time in office, where “strengthening local governance” means politicians can become a “more stable partner” to churches, helping them to “become a catalyst for more sophisticated intervention” in issues including homelessness and poverty.
A number of Christian charities have also welcomed the new Prime Minister on his appointment.
Christine Allen, director of Catholic aid agency CAFOD said: “Andy Burnham’s Catholic upbringing will undoubtedly continue to play an important part in informing his leadership and decision-making. He has talked about prioritising fairness and justice, and of having the courage to ‘fix big things’. All of that will be necessary as the UK prepares to take on the leadership of the G20 later this year.
“The church’s social teaching offers a priceless framework that speaks into every aspect of life and leadership. It will be a valuable guide in the biggest challenges Mr Burnham will need to address, such as lifting people out of poverty, tackling the climate crisis and reforming the broken and harmful financial systems in our world today.
Graeme McMeekin, chief mission officer at Christians Against Poverty, has called on him to “prioritise helping local households out of unmanageable debt and poverty” with “collaboration and unity” between politicians, businesses, charities and churches to give households a “future of hope, joy and purpose”.
Archbishop Richard Moth, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, offered his congratulations and prayers to Burnham and his family.
“We are living in challenging times. As Christians we have a duty to be bridgebuilders and peacemakers. Where there are tensions, hostility and injustice, we are called to respond with real concern and respect for the dignity of the person, for the needs of families, the marginalised, and the vulnerable”, Archbishop Richard added.