Nicolai Haugsted
Andy Burnham’s longstanding connection to Manchester City is attracting national attention as his political opponents demand answers.
Andy Burnham’s long association with Manchester has followed him all the way to Downing Street, but his relationship with one of the city’s biggest sporting institutions is now attracting a different kind of attention.
The British prime minister has found himself answering uncomfortable questions after his response to Manchester City’s financial misconduct case prompted criticism from political opponents.
Opposition politicians have demanded greater transparency about his previous dealings with the club’s leadership, raising questions about the relationship between the former mayor and the Premier League giants.
Now, Reuters via. officials in Greater Manchester have released details of Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.
Meetings with Manchester City’s chairman revealed
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority confirmed on Monday that Burnham met Al Mubarak during his time as mayor of Greater Manchester.
The most significant disclosed meeting took place in October 2021 at a government-organised investment event.
“In October 2021 Andy Burnham, in his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester, had a formal meeting with Khaldoon Al Mubarak at the UK Government’s Global Investment Summit arranged by the Department for International Trade,” the authority said in its statement.
Officials also confirmed an earlier, informal encounter between the two men.
That meeting took place in 2019, when Burnham attended a testimonial football match in his official capacity as mayor.
The statement further revealed that Manchester City employees had assisted with business delegation visits Burnham made to China and Japan.
Burnham served as Greater Manchester mayor from May 2017 until June 2026, when he left the position before becoming prime minister.
His reaction to Manchester City’s punishment sparked criticism
The disclosures follow a controversy surrounding Burnham’s initial comments after Manchester City was found guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial regulations.
Rather than focusing exclusively on the club’s wrongdoing, Burnham expressed concern about the possibility of its owners selling Manchester City.
Speaking to the BBC, he described the ownership group as “a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester”.
He also acknowledged its contribution to transforming the football club into an internationally recognised sporting powerhouse.
The remarks drew criticism from opposition politicians, who interpreted them as an attempt to defend the club despite the financial misconduct ruling.
Burnham’s office subsequently sought to clarify his position.
His spokesperson said Manchester City should face the “appropriate consequences” if wrongdoing had been established.
However, the clarification did not immediately end the questions surrounding the prime minister’s relationship with the club.
Opposition demands greater transparency
The Liberal Democrats were among those calling for Burnham to disclose details of his previous contact with Manchester City’s owners and senior officials.
Their concerns centred on whether his longstanding professional relationship with the club could have influenced his public response to the financial case.
The newly published information confirms that Burnham had both formal and informal contact with the club’s chairman while serving as mayor.
It also establishes that Manchester City personnel supported overseas business visits involving Greater Manchester delegations.
However, the statement does not suggest that the meetings involved improper conduct or that Burnham attempted to influence the Premier League’s disciplinary process.
The distinction is important because the political criticism concerns the appearance of closeness between a senior government figure and a football club facing serious sanctions, rather than any established wrongdoing by Burnham himself.
