Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to publish details of his dealings with Manchester City and its owners during his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester, following opposition demands for transparency.
In an interview with The Rest Is Politics, reported on Sunday, Burnham said he was willing to release information about his meetings and work with the club’s owners in his previous role.
Burnham promises disclosure
Burnham said his meetings were not recent, adding: “I only had one significant meeting, actually, and that was in 2021.”
That is his account of the extent of his significant meetings, rather than an independently verified inventory of all contacts.
He argued that investment in Manchester should be considered separately from football regulation, while accepting that the club’s financial-rule proceedings were serious and should run their independent course.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and the Liberal Democrats had called for disclosure of his dealings with the club and its owners.
Commission findings challenged by the club
On 29 September, the Premier League announced that an independent commission had found Manchester City guilty of serious financial-rule breaches covering the 2009/10 to 2017/18 seasons.
According to the league, the commission found that disguised funding arrangements and commercial contracts had artificially increased the club’s reported revenue and reduced its costs. It also upheld three of four alleged breaches concerning cooperation with the investigation.
Manchester City disputes the findings. The club confirmed that it lodged an appeal on 1 October, arguing that the decision contained material errors of law, principle and fact.
The Premier League confirmed the appeal on 2 October. Its statement announcing the commission’s findings said sanctions would be addressed separately in a further hearing.
Pressure for wider transparency
Shadow sports minister Louie French has also called for disclosure of contacts between Manchester City and ministers or officials since Burnham entered Downing Street.
Burnham’s reported pledge concerned his previous mayoral role. The club’s disciplinary findings do not themselves establish misconduct by the prime minister.
Sources
- ITV News — Burnham’s disclosure pledge and political responses, 11 October 2026
- Reuters — Burnham to release details of dealings with Manchester City, 11 October 2026
- Premier League — independent commission’s findings, 29 September 2026
- Manchester City — club statement confirming its appeal, 2 October 2026
- Premier League — confirmation of Manchester City’s appeal, 2 October 2026