Andy Burnham has enjoyed more foreign jaunts than any other metropolitan mayor.
Labour’s Greater Manchester leader went on nine overseas trips in two years – including three to the US as well as jaunts to Ireland, Japan and Singapore.
In a blow to his ‘man of the people’ image, he was even upgraded to upper class on one of his transatlantic flights.
The total cost of his globetrotting during 2024 and 2025 was £52,942, figures obtained by the Daily Mail have revealed, though some was covered by his hosts rather than taxpayers.
Mr Burnham was also abroad at the end of last month, at a mayoral summit in Madrid, before it was revealed he plans to return to Westminster to challenge Sir Keir – whose first 39 trips abroad since the election have cost taxpayers £4.2 million.
The Prime Minister’s time spent out of the country has seen him dubbed ‘Never Here Keir’.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was the first to be labelled ‘Air Miles Andy’ due to his globetrotting lifestyle and use of private jets and helicopters on taxpayer-funded trips.
Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: ‘It seems the King of the North is so proud of Greater Manchester that he needs no excuse to leave it. While families tighten their belts, Andy Burnham has been fastening his in business class.’
Andy Burnham went on nine overseas trips in two years – including three to the US as well as jaunts to Ireland, Japan and Singapore
William Yarwood, campaigns director at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘To ordinary taxpayers, these foreign trips look far more like political tourism than essential public business.
‘After years of criticism over Never Here Keir, the last thing taxpayers need is an Air Miles Andy more focused on collecting flight points than fixing problems back home.
‘Mr Burnham should justify these trips and prove they are delivering tangible benefits for local taxpayers.’
But a spokesman for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), of which Mr Burnham is the leader, insisted: ‘Greater Manchester is an ambitious and outward‑looking city region, and we are proud to have been the UK’s leading economic growth story over the past decade.
‘We have attracted more foreign direct investment than anywhere outside London, and our engagement with civic leaders and investors around the world is translating into new jobs and opportunities for people in Greater Manchester. Our trade delegations are putting our businesses on the map, showcasing British companies in a way that can’t be replicated on a virtual meeting.
‘That global outreach has delivered a £100 million investment from Japanese manufacturer Astemo in their Bolton factory, creating 150 new jobs, a £17 million investment from Mizkan in their Middleton plant, and seen major financial firms like BNY and S&P Global expand their footprint in our city region.’
Next most travelled was Liverpool’s metro mayor Steve Rotheram, a close ally of Mr Burnham, who went on seven foreign trips in two years, costing taxpayers £8,861. These included an 11-day visit to Mexico City, Boston and New York in October 2024, costing £3,120. His office declined to comment.
Third was Labour’s London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, who went on five trips in two years. His most expensive visit was a six-day trip to Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa last July that cost £83,921.
Sir Sadiq also went to a world mayors’ summit in Brazil last autumn, with the costs covered by Bloomberg, and was in Madrid along with Mr Burnham in recent weeks.
A spokesman for the Mayor of London said: ‘London is a global city and Sadiq makes no apology for banging the drum for the capital overseas to promote growth, generate new trade, tourism and investment opportunities and develop cultural links.
‘This role is vital as he works to create new jobs and deliver economic prosperity for the capital. The previous Mayor made 34 international visits by plane, compared to Sadiq’s 18.’
Labour’s North East mayor Kim McGuinness went on three trips costing £19,865 in total.
They included two days in Saudi Arabia as part of the Prime Minister’s delegation and an 11-day visit to Japan.
The North East Combined Authority said of the Tokyo trip, which cost £15,929: ‘The Mayor led a trade mission to further objectives agreed in the North East Local Growth Plan, attracting new investment and supporting firms who export to Japan.’
West Yorkshire’s Labour mayor Tracy Brabin went to the US, India and Brazil in 2024 and 2025.
Her five-day visit to Nashville and Boston, to ‘support and expand trade between West Yorkshire businesses and businesses in the USA’, cost £19,574.
East Midlands mayor Clare Ward went on a nine-day trip to the USA and spent a week in Japan, at a total cost of £13,097, flying business class on both visits.
Her office said the purpose of the Japan trip was: ‘Leading a delegation as part of the Invest in UK University R&D Midlands Campaign, promoting the East Midlands’ research and innovation strengths, attending conferences, and holding meetings with investors, universities, and senior business leaders to support inward investment, international collaboration, and economic growth in the region.’
The Conservative mayor of Tees Valley Lord Houchen went on trips to Saudia Arabia and France, costing £7,408 in total.
He said: ‘Securing investment from abroad that will bring good-quality, well-paid jobs for local people in Teesside means getting out there and meeting face to face with investors.
‘This year, we spent two days in Saudi Arabia in talks with SABIC to try and save hundreds of local jobs following their announcement that they intend to close their chemical facility due to the Labour Government’s failure on regulation and energy pricing in the UK.
‘We also spent time with Alfanar, who are now investing £2 billion into our region and creating hundreds of good-quality jobs.’
