Andy Burnham's dad Roy dies after Alzheimer's left him unaware his son had become PM

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 08:42 EDT, 14 September 2026 | Updated: 08:58 EDT, 14 September 2026 Andy Burnham's father Roy has died with the Prime Minister cancelling his meetings today and tomorrow, Downing Street has said.Shortly before becoming PM, Mr Burnham spoke of a 'sadness' that his father would not be aware his son was taking on the top job due to him suffering with Alzheimer's.'That's a sadness because he would be (proud),' Mr Burnham said in July, as he described visiting his father in a care home just before he took office.'The way I look at it, it's his achievement as well. A whole family achievement although he doesn't know it.'Mr Burnham has often said his father's Alzheimer's - the most common cause of dementia - is one of the driving factors behind his bid to reform social care.In a major speech shortly after he became PM, Mr Burnham vowed to help 'my dad and the millions like him' faced with the unfairness of the current system.More to follow... Andy Burnham pictured with his father Roy and mother Eileen in 2015