MAG warmly congratulates Andy Burnham on his appointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
As a Manchester-based international organisation, MAG has had the pleasure of building a strong relationship with Mr Burnham during his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Throughout that time, he consistently recognised the vital contribution that humanitarian organisations based in the region make around the world and engaged seriously with the challenges facing conflict-affected communities and those working to support them.
We were delighted to welcome him to our Manchester offices, where he learned more about our work supporting communities living with landmines, unexploded ordnance and armed violence, and met some of our staff working in conflict zones.
When MAG was awarded the 2025 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, the world’s largest annual humanitarian award, we were grateful for his message of support, in which he described the win as “a huge moment of pride for Greater Manchester.”
The Prime Minister takes office at a time of profound global uncertainty, with international norms under growing pressure, and approximately 2 billion people – a quarter of the world’s population – affected by violence and fragility. The UK has long been a global leader in supporting humanitarian mine action, and that leadership matters now more than ever.
Speaking on the appointment, Darren Cormack, MAG CEO, said: “Over many years, Mr Burnham has shown a genuine interest in the work we do, and the impact conflict continues to have on communities around the world.
"We have valued his friendship and support for MAG and for the wider humanitarian sector in Greater Manchester. We greatly look forward to continuing our dialogue with the Prime Minister and working with leaders from across the political spectrum to ensure that the needs of conflict-affected communities remain a priority."
