Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Imposter Syndrome, Failed Leadership Bids and Finding Hope

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:25:49 +0000

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Andy Burnham is the first Prime Minister on How to Fail. Past leaders have run scared of doing a podcast with ‘fail’ in the title - but not this one. As he says in this conversation: ‘if you’ve not succeeded, you have to understand why it happened, and what you’re going to do about it.’ Wise words from a global leader.
Burnham is now our 7th Prime Minister in 10 years, having won a decisive by-election in Makerfield and having received nominations from 94% of Labour MPs in an unopposed leadership contest.
In this exclusive episode, recorded at No. 10 North, Andy talks about growing up, how his Catholic faith has shaped his outlook (and whether or not he snuck some communion wine as an altar boy). Plus: imposter syndrome, what he learned from his past failed leadership bids, friendships within politics, how his wife responded to his desire to run for PM, the meaning of ‘home’ and whether or not his dad, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, knows his son has become Prime Minister.
A must-listen, even if we do say so ourselves.

IN THIS EPISODE:
00:00 Introduction
03:12 Imposter Syndrome and Authenticity
06:13 Faith and Catholic Roots
08:32 English Degree and Power of Words
10:19 Failed Leadership Bids
16:50 Politics Friendships and Family
21:07 Post Cambridge Job Hunt
25:06 What Home Means
26:26 Hillsborough and Two Britains
27:36 Number 10 North Vision
28:43 Building Safety and Hope
32:49 Radical Yet Sensible Politics
35:35 Fixing Social Care
38:16 Roy and Alzheimer’s
43:10 Faith Power and Farewell

LINKS + MENTIONS:
Join the How To Fail community: www.howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content
Elizabeth’s Substack: www.theelizabethday.substack.com

WANT MORE?
Ed Miliband - swap.fm/l/YTnZMo8h78DZNf7ZmKnF
Sadiq Khan - swap.fm/l/FcuzDh396Ul76Sc46KRb
Jess Phillips - swap.fm/l/EHHLbfGCH6oBDbOaMhbX

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