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We asked the people of Liverpool whether Andy Burnham is a Scouser - here’s what they saidThe ECHO took to the streets of Liverpool to ask people if they class Andy Burnham as one of their own - Here's what they told usCommentsNewsRebecca McGrath Regional Identity Reporter17:56, 07 Jul 2026People give their opinions on Andy Burnham being a ScouserAndy Burnham’s regional identity is often debated, though he was born in Merseyside, the bulk of his political career has been based in Manchester, with his brand focusing heavily on so-called “Manchesterism”.In his speech held in Manchester last month, Burnham received a huge round of applause as he confirmed plans to create a 'Number 10 North' if he became Prime Minister. He said the new office would be based in Manchester and tasked with ensuring power flows across the country and into the devolved nations.Despite spending most of his political career in Manchester serving as the MP for Leigh and Mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham was born in Old Roan in Aintree, where he lived until the age of one, before his family moved to Culcheth in Cheshire, near Warrington, where he grew up.View 9 ImagesAndy Burnham, delivers a speech at The People's Museum on June 29, 2026 in Manchester(Image: Getty Images)Burnham’s ‘Scouseness’ is often linked to him being a lifelong Evertonian; he also first introduced the Hillsborough Law Bill to Parliament when he was last an MP in 2017 after he was heckled at a memorial service marking the 20th anniversary of the disaster in 2009. The heckling motivated Burnham to raise the issue in cabinet, which contributed to the launch of a second inquiry into the tragedy, which led to fresh inquests and the unlawful killing verdict.The MP for Makerfield is also a huge rugby league fan, having previously served as president of the Rugby Football League and as a supporter of the Leigh Leopards. He promised to back rugby league “from the highest office” if he becomes Prime Minister, stating he would be “massively proud” to represent rugby league from No 10.View 9 ImagesSteve Rotheram Mayor of Liverpool City Region and Andy Burnham Mayor of Greater Manchester at Hillsborough Press conference at Anfield(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)But with all this considered, do the people of Liverpool think of him as one of our own? The ECHO took to the streets of Liverpool city centre to ask people - is Andy Burnham a Scouser?Graham McNamee, 78, originally from Sheffield, said he didn’t know Burnham was born in Liverpool when approached by the ECHO and said he thinks others would be surprised by the fact.View 9 ImagesGraham McNamee, 78, originally from Sheffield, said he didn’t know Burnham was born in Liverpool when approached by the ECHO(Image: Liverpool Echo)He told the ECHO: “Everyone associates him with Manchester, so I think people from Liverpool would probably be a bit surprised to find out he’s from Liverpool.”When asked about his thoughts on the country potentially having its first Scouse Prime Minister, Graham added: “It’s difficult because whoever gets in, they promise you one thing and when they get in, it's totally different. So I don't know. I hope he would do a good job if he got in because the country needs it.”Further down the street was Emma Howard, 48, originally from Bradford but has lived in the city for 10 years with her husband, who is from Liverpool. She said she only recently found out that Burnham was born in Liverpool.She told the ECHO: “I only found out the other day, so I didn’t know he was born here until recently.View 9 ImagesEmma Howard, 48, originally from Bradford but has lived in the city for 10 years with her husband, who is from Liverpool. She said she only recently found out that Burnham was born in Liverpool(Image: Liverpool Echo)“I quite like him. I like how he helped the Hillsborough campaign, and I’ve seen a lot of what he’s done in Manchester. He’s done great there. So what I’ve seen from him personally, I like.”When asked if she classed the MP as a Scouser, she said: “It’s a hard one. I think my husband would probably say he’s a wool because he grew up in Warrington, but I think if I were born in Liverpool, I would class myself as a Scouser.”When asked her thoughts on him becoming Prime Minister, she said: “I think it would be boss.”Wendy Rooney, 62, from Wirral, was enjoying a coffee with a friend on Castle Street when she was approached by the ECHO.She said: “I don’t really know much about him, to be honest with you. I really don't know whether he's going to change things. Who knows? They all say one thing, and then nothing happens, does it?”View 9 ImagesWendy Rooney, 62, from Wirral, was enjoying a coffee with a friend on Castle Street when she was approached by the ECHO(Image: Liverpool Echo)However, Wendy was very aware that Burnham was born in Liverpool. She said: “I actually lived in the area where he came from in Old Roan. I lived up the road from him.“I class him as a Scouser because he’s an Evertonian, isn’t he, so I suppose he is Scouse and I think other people in Liverpool would agree.”When asked her thoughts about having a Scouse Prime Minister, she said: “What does it get us? If he makes a difference, then great. Maybe he knows more about working-class people than any of the others because they weren't brought up in working-class areas.”Tom O'Connell, 69, from Knotty Ash, said that Burnham being from Liverpool wouldn’t affect his view on him being Prime Minister. He said: "I haven’t thought about it. He’ll be the Prime Minister to me. How he gets on has got nothing to do with where he was born.“I can’t make up my mind yet. I used to like him, but he seems to have flip-flopped since going in for the Makerfield election. He's tended to be on the left of the Labour Party, pro-immigration, pro-EU, and now he seems to be saying to different people what those people want to hear.”View 9 ImagesTom O'Connell, 69, from Knotty Ash, said that Burnham being from Liverpool wouldn’t affect his view on him being Prime Minister(Image: Liverpool Echo)Tom added that he knew Burnham was born in Old Roan and classed him as a Scouser. He said: “He was born here and he’s got a Scouse accent, so I think he is a Scouser.”Dominic Coar, 56, from Wirral, told the ECHO that he classed Burnham as a Scouser because he was “born and bred here” but added that he was a “political animal” who “needs to do what he needs to do”.He said: “From what I've seen so far, I don't know. It's politically very difficult. He seems to know how to make people happy, but can he make a country happy? Who knows?View 9 ImagesDominic Coar, 56, from Wirral, told the ECHO that he classed Burnham as a Scouser because he was “born and bred here” (Image: Liverpool Echo)“He was born and bred here, although he moved around. He's a political animal. He needs to do what he needs to do. Having a Scouse Prime Minister would be hilarious. I can’t see him being happy down south, but that’s not our problem.”When asked if she classed Burnham as a Scouser, Maya Reed, 69, told the ECHO: “I guess you’ve got to if he’s born here. I’d definitely say he’s a northerner, and I think he cares about the North.“He seems very popular. I’m not sure what he can change that Starmer couldn’t, so I’m not sure how it will pan out, really, if he becomes Prime Minister. I think it would be great if we had a first Scouse Prime Minister, absolutely.”View 9 ImagesMaya Reed, 69, told the ECHO said she classed Andy Burnham as a Scouser(Image: Liverpool Echo)Sue Rochel, 62, from Walton, said that although she thinks Burnham is “affable,” she was unsure about him becoming leader.View 9 ImagesSue Rochel, 62, from Walton, said that although she thinks Burnham is “affable,” she was unsure about him becoming leader(Image: Liverpool Echo)She told the ECHO: “I don’t know yet. I mean, he's affable. He seems really pleasant, but I don't know anything about his policies, so I'm reserving judgment. It’s early days. I feel like, at the moment, he’s all about this ‘Number 10 of the North’, which I think is going to alienate quite a lot of people. So we’ll just have to wait and see what he does personally.”When asked if she saw him as a Scouser, she said: “Not really, no. Probably more Manc really. I know he’s from Liverpool.”Article continues belowDo you class Andy Burnham as a Scouser? Let us know in the comments below.