Biba 2026: Burnham pulls out of Biba Conference as PM’s future hangs in the balance

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham will no longer be attending the 2026 Biba Conference.

Burnham was due to make an appearance at the opening session of the conference, participating in a fireside chat event led by broadcast journalist and conference host Kay Burley.

He was going to discuss where he sees the opportunities in the region, his calls on government and how Manchester will capitalise on innovation to deliver jobs and drive growth.

However, just ahead of the conference getting underway, Biba said it was informed by Burnham’s office that he can no longer attend for his session on 13 May 2026.

“We hope you understand that this is entirely out of our control,” the trade body said.

The keynote session will be proceeding with Kay Burley, the FCA’s Lisa Sturley, Sir Ben Wallace KCB, as well as Biba’s Caroline Barr, Graeme Trudgill and Iain Anderson.

’Leadership ambitions’

Burnham dropping out of the conference comes amid him being seen as a potential successor for prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Starmer is currently fighting for his political future after the local council elections results and numerous calls from Labour MPs for him to step aside.

Burnham was spotted in London on Tuesday and The Telegraph said that ”two Labour sources confirmed a discreet gathering was under way in London between Burnham and MPs supportive of his leadership ambitions”.

For him to challenge Starmer, an MP would have to stand down to trigger a by-election, allowing Burnham a path back into Westminster.