Burnham falls silent on stage as he chokes back emotion before speaking about his late father Roy in Labour conference speech - just two weeks on from his death with Alzheimer's

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 10:38 EDT, 29 September 2026 | Updated: 12:14 EDT, 29 September 2026 Andy Burnham fell silent on stage during his first Labour conference speech as Prime Minister today as he choked with emotion two weeks on from his father's death.During his keynote address, Mr Burnham briefly struggled to continue before he went on to speak about his late father's passing.The PM took an emotional pause towards the end of his speech, which led to a member of the audience shouting 'go on Andy'.This was followed by applause from Labour delegates, with Mr Burnham acknowledging the support by saying: 'Thank you everyone.'Roy Burnham, who was in his mid-80s, died earlier this month after suffering with Alzheimer's - the most common cause of dementia.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 the disease.He has also often said his father's Alzheimer's is one of the driving factors behind his bid to reform social care.In his Labour conference speech on Tuesday, Mr Burnham set out how 'savings' from axing the 'triple lock' on state pensions would go towards funding his plans. Andy Burnham fell silent on stage during his first Labour conference speech as Prime Minister as he choked with emotion two weeks on from his father's death The PM pictured with his father Roy, who suffered with Alzheimer's, and mother Eileen in 2015 Mr Burnham embraced his mother Eileen and brother John after delivering his Labour conference speechThe PM confirmed his intent to create 'a high-quality National Care Service to give peace of mind in later life'. He said this would be part of a 'new settlement for older people and their families', adding: 'In memory of my dad and out of respect for everyone who cared for him'.In a further mention of his father, an emotional Mr Burnham said later: '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. After all, my dad Roy would have been the first to defend his right to say it!'I relay it because I want you to know how it made me feel. Utterly determined to prove him wrong. 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 he had been able to appreciate that moment of the family in Downing Street.'The son of a man who failed his 11-plus becoming Prime Minister. The fact it could even happen in this country would not have been lost on him.'He could have gone to university, but times were different then so it wasn’t an option. But he voted for the Labour Governments which changed education so his sons could.'The United Kingdom my dad represented is the one I believe in.'Mr Burnham again appeared tearful as he added: 'I am going to use this job to build the kind of Britain my dad wanted to see – and fight with everything I’ve got to keep it together.'Not the last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Rather the first to rewire it to make it work for all people and places.'The PM cancelled his meetings for two days earlier this month following his dad's passing.Roy was a former telephone engineer, first with the Post Office and then with BT.He and the PM's mother Eileen - who was in the audience on Tuesday for her son's first Labour conference speech as PM - brought Mr Burnham up in Culcheth, Cheshire, alongside his two brothers.Mr Burnham inherited his Catholic faith from his mother and attended Catholic schools during his childhood.The former Greater Manchester mayor has previously spoken about how his non-Catholic father was worried about meeting his mother's family for the first time 'as religion was so important in Liverpool then'.