Should drivers fear an Andy Burnham government?
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Andy Burnham is among the frontrunners to become Labour leader and prime minister. Here’s what his policies could mean for drivers, and how they compare with those of his potential rivals.
Following Keir Starmer’s resignation as prime minister and Labour leader, Andy Burnham, the MP for Makerfield, has emerged as a leading contender to succeed him.
But what might his approach to motoring look like, and how would it compare with that of his potential rivals? We look at Burnham’s approach, alongside other contenders to build a picture of what drivers could expect from the next prime minister.
Keep in mind that Burnham has not set out a detailed national motoring policy or made definitive commitments on many of the measures discussed below. However, his record as mayor of Greater Manchester offers some indication of how he may approach transport and drivers if he were to reach Number 10.
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What motoring changes could we see under Andy Burnham?
Burnham has said little publicly about electric cars, but his track record in Greater Manchester offers some clues about the direction he could take on motoring policy.
One of his most high-profile moves was a proposed £100m Clean Air Zone for Greater Manchester, which would have charged polluting vans, lorries and other commercial vehicles up to £60 a day. Private cars were not included.
The scheme was ultimately scrapped after strong public opposition, but it did show Burnham’s willingness to target emissions through regulation – at least for commercial traffic – alongside major investment in cleaner transport, including over 200 electric buses.
On the national EV transition, there has been speculation that future governments could soften current targets under pressure from the car industry. That would potentially lower the ambition of the ZEV mandate, reducing the share of electric cars required in new car sales by 2030 while still moving away from petrol and diesel over time.
Burnham himself has not set out a detailed position, but the Climate Change Committee has urged the next prime minister not to weaken these rules.
If Burnham were to lead a government, drivers could see continued investment in public transport rather than charging motorists in congestion zones.
Throughout his tenure as mayor of Greater Manchester, he consistently opposed congestion charges, arguing instead for better buses and fares under the publicly controlled Bee Network. That approach suggests a preference for improving alternatives to driving rather than directly penalising motorists.
There’s also uncertainty around future road pricing plans, including the proposed “eVED” pay-per-mile system for electric cars, expected later in the decade. Its future will depend heavily on wider fiscal pressures and transport funding decisions made by the next prime minister and their cabinet.
Overall, Burnham’s record points to a focus on expanding public transport, tightening emissions standards in some areas, and avoiding direct charges on private car use – but with continued pressure to decarbonise how people travel.
What about other potential candidates?
Labour’s ruling body has set out the timetable for electing a new party leader, meaning Andy Burnham could replace Keir Starmer as early as 17 July if he remains the only MP to enter the race.
Several MPs, including Darren Jones, David Lammy, and Wes Streeting, have ruled themselves out of the Labour leadership contest and publicly backed Burnham.
There are reports that the only potential candidate to go up against Burnham, at the time of writing, is MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, Al Carns.
The former Armed Forces Minister backed the government’s new UK Road Safety Strategy, published in early 2026. He also posted on X, saying he was “proud” to see the government launch the strategy, and highlighting that “this is about safer journeys for all”.
A key aim of the strategy is to cut the number of people killed or seriously injured on UK roads by 65% by 2035. Carns has backed the target, which is central to the government’s wider road safety plans.
The proposals include changes that could affect drivers, including possible new rules on training and testing – such as eyesight checks for older drivers and longer learning periods before taking a test.
Other measures focus on tougher standards, including potential changes to the drink-driving limit, particularly for new drivers, alongside stronger enforcement on uninsured driving, illegal plates, and untaxed or unroadworthy vehicles.
Carns’ support suggests backing for a tougher approach to road safety and enforcement, although many of the proposals are still under consultation.
If he were to face Burnham in a leadership contest, his stance indicates he would be more likely to prioritise stricter enforcement over relaxing driver rules, with a focus on reducing accidents and improving compliance.
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