Andy Burnham jams The Smiths with Ukrainian soldier in Kyiv
In a moment that blended high-level diplomacy with pure, unadulterated culture, Prime Minister Andy Burnham found an unexpected soundtrack during his visit to Kyiv. While touring the military and artistic units on the front lines, Burnham shared a moment of musical connection with a Ukrainian soldier.
While exploring the unit’s mobile recording studio, the Prime Minister was handed a guitar by a soldier, prompting him to play a riff from the iconic 1985 album Meat is Murder by the Manchester band The Smiths. With a little self-deprecating humour, Burnham admitted, “I’m out of practice, a little bit,” before sharing the poignant melody.
The exchange was mirrored by the soldiers, who also sang an Oasis song for Burnham, highlighting how music serves as a powerful, immediate balm, capable of lifting spirits in the challenging environments faced by those on the front line.
Burnham’s appreciation for music is deep-rooted, stemming from his lifelong connection to the Manchester music scene. His history with iconic acts like Oasis, The Smiths, and Wolf Alice demonstrates a passion that often translates into political action. This deep engagement with culture is not new; years ago, as Mayor of Greater Manchester, he gave a shout out to The Courteeners during his victory speech, cementing his role as a champion of grassroots artistry.
This commitment to music extends into policy. Burnham has consistently advocated for ensuring that the arts receive vital support. He has strongly backed the call for a £1 ticket levy on gigs at arena level and above, ensuring that revenue flows back into the pipeline for rising artists and grassroots venues. This belief is central to his proposal for a new Music Plan, aimed at bolstering the arts sector with a £15 million growth package.
The goal of the Music Plan is ambitious: to benefit over 40,000 artists and businesses, support 2,000 projects, and provide opportunities for millions of children, hopefully opening doors for more people from working-class backgrounds to enter the world of music.
Beyond the cultural sphere, Burnham has used his platform to address pressing national issues, demonstrating that music intersects with wider political concerns. He has been vocal in the push to remove the prohibitive barriers of the post-Brexit touring crisis and address complex issues like copyright exceptions related to AI, demanding accountability from the government.
The interconnectedness of culture and commerce is further illustrated by the recent calls from major artists, including Radiohead, Massive Attack, and others, who have jointly urged the UK government to halt the proposed development of the controversial Rosebank oil field in the North Sea. For these figures, the fight for cultural freedom is inseparable from environmental and economic responsibility.
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