Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, declared donations totalling almost £350,000 in the months before he became Labour leader and Prime Minister. The new MPs’ register of interests, which is the first to record his financial interests as an MP since he took office, details contributions from major donors.
Among the significant contributors were his former adviser Sacha Lord, and billionaires David Sainsbury and Gary Lubner. Sainsbury, a long-term Labour donor, was the largest financial supporter, providing over £160,000, which included funding for staff working on policy. Lord contributed £35,000, covering staffing, contractor costs, travel, venue hire, and campaign support.
The register also shows Burnham declared hospitality and trips valued at more than £12,000. These included £1,500 for Glastonbury tickets in 2025, where he was a speaker, and £500 for tickets to Ladies Day at Aintree this year. Many of these declarations related to his previous role as Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Other declarations include £20,000 from trade unions such as Unison, the CWU, and the Fire Brigades Union. Charlie Parsons, a media executive, gave £50,000 through a company he owns, while Gary Lubner contributed £25,000. Shalni Arora and David Blunkett each gave £10,000. ThinkLabour, formerly Labour Together, provided over £22,000 in staffing and IT equipment.
The register also notes that Burnham recently established a company named Office of Andy Burnham and owns a rented property in London with his wife. Separately, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Louise Haigh declared £11,000 from Sainsbury for legal advice and £7,500 in legal services from Bindmans law firm, related to media misrepresentation.