Labour donors backed Andy Burnham's PM bid with £340k, reveals analysis

Labour’s new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, received more than £340,000 in large donations for his leadership campaign from prominent party donors, newly published financial disclosures show.

The majority of the funding came from figures with close ties to former leader Keir Starmer, including Lord Sainsbury, Labour’s largest ongoing donor. Documents indicate Burnham’s campaign secured significant financial and logistical support within hours of Starmer announcing his resignation on June 22.

On that same day, Lord Sainsbury provided almost £140,000 in donations-in-kind to cover contractors working on Burnham’s campaign and policy development. He also supplied office space and later contributed an additional £25,000 in late July. Lord Sainsbury is a key backer of ThinkLabour (formerly Labour Together), a group that has faced scrutiny over undeclared donations and alleged improper conduct.

Other major donors included Gary Lubner, a South African billionaire who contributed £25,000, and Sacha Lord, Burnham’s former nighttime economy advisor, who donated more than £35,000. ThinkLabour itself provided staff and IT equipment valued at over £22,000, while consulting firm Ernst & Young (EY) seconded a staff member to Burnham’s team in July for £16,500.

The donations reflect a broader shift in Labour’s financial backing toward Burnham shortly after Starmer’s departure, following months of reported dissatisfaction among major donors with the party’s direction under his leadership.

Burnham’s campaign also received early financial support from three trade unions—the Fire Brigades Union (£10,000) and Unison and the Communication Workers Union (£5,000 each)—though this accounted for a small portion of his total funding.

Labour Together, which rebranded to ThinkLabour earlier this year amid scandals involving undeclared donations and alleged spying on journalists, played a direct role in Burnham’s campaign. The group supplied staff and equipment, while several of its former associates have since joined Burnham’s government.

Among them is Alison Phillips, a former journalist and lobbyist who led ThinkLabour’s rebrand before becoming Burnham’s deputy chief of staff. Hayden Munro, Burnham’s political director, previously worked at Arden Strategies, a lobbying firm led by former Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy. Luke Sullivan, a former Starmer advisor and lobbyist with Headland, advised Burnham’s campaign and has since joined the Cabinet Office.

Burnham’s leadership team also included corporate lobbyists such as Martha Dalton of Lodestone Communications and Chris Lee of Cavendish Consulting. Donjeta Miftari, formerly of Hanbury Strategy, has since become a special adviser in the Department for Education.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski criticised the close ties between Labour’s leadership and corporate lobbying firms, stating: “How can it be acceptable for a Prime Minister and their government to be so deeply compromised in this way?”