Andy Burnham Tears Up And Struggles For Words In Powerful Speech Honouring His Late Father

Andy Burnham appeared lost for words on stage at the Labour Party conference today shortly before he paid homage to his late father.

The prime minister unexpectedly went silent in the middle of his speech on the main stage for 10 long seconds, sparking a spontaneous round of applause from the crowd.

After he regained his composure, Burnham thanked his supporters, before honouring his dad Roy, who died earlier this month – just weeks after his son became PM – after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease 

The prime minister said: “On the day my dad died, the Scottish first minister said I would be the last prime minister of the United Kingdom. 

“I quote that not to seek sympathy nor to criticise John Swinney. I don’t think he knew the news at the time. And anyway, my dad Roy would have been the first to defend his right to say it.”

He said Swinney’s remarks made him “utterly determined to prove him wrong”.

Speaking about his father, the prime minister said: “Whatever its flaws, this country gave my dad a good life. And it has given his sons opportunities he didn’t get for himself.

“He recognised that and was grateful for it and so proud of what Nick, John and I did with them.

“If only, if only, he had been able to appreciate that moment with the family on Downing Street.

“The son of a man who failed the 11-plus becoming prime minister.”

Cabinet ministers including transport secretary Heidi Alexander and energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh were seen welling up too, and standing up to clap for Burnham.

He continued: “The fact that this could even happen in this country would not have been lost on him. He could have gone to university himself but times were different then so it wasn’t an option.

“But he voted every time, religiously, for the Labour governments which changed education so his sons could do that.”

Burnham grew increasingly emotional as he went on while the crowd cheered, with a growing number of people standing up to applaud.

He continued: “The United Kingdom my dad represented is the one I believe in, a union of nations that gave trade unions and the cooperative movement to the world ,the National Health Service, a country that stood up to fascism, a country of solidarity, not separation, that the Britain that my dad represented.”

“Britain is not perfect. It can be better and we will make it so. But it still stands for something worth saving, worth fighting for.”  

“I’m going to use this job to build the Britain my dad wanted to see,” he added.

Watch the significant moment here: