Andy Burnham takes part in Great North Run for homelessness charity

Prime Minister Andy Burnham, sporting bib number 10, pictured with Brendan Foster, ahead of the AJ Bell Great North Run from Newcastle upon Tyne to South Shields (Richard Sellers / PA). PA Wire Sam Hall 4 minutes ago Prime Minister Andy Burnham is taking part in the Great North Run to raise money for a homelessness charity.

Mr Burnham, wearing a Number 10 bib, was running in the half marathon to raise money for Changing Lives, which he visited last month to launch a national drive to end rough sleeping.

He said the run between Newcastle and South Shields was a “fantastic event”, adding it “gives you such a belief in the people of this country”.

The Prime Minister, who took part in the run in a personal capacity, said the North East “doesn’t always get the attention it deserves” and “it’s good for the whole country to have its eyes on this wonderful part of the world today”.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham, sporting bib number 10, during the AJ Bell Great North Run from Newcastle upon Tyne to South Shields (Richard Sellers/PA) PA Wire Speaking to the BBC before the race on Sunday morning, Mr Burnham said: “ People said to me when I became Prime Minister: ‘Don’t change.’

“I’ve been doing the Great North Run for a few years, so I thought: ‘Well, I’ll live that now. I won’t change. I’ll come and do it again.’

“And hopefully leading from the front, getting out there. I’m a big believer that everybody should do a bit of activity, whatever it is people can do.”

Wearing a pink running shirt and a number 10 race bib, Mr Burnham joked: “When I’m doing my job, I can hardly give up halfway round, can I?”

Speaking near the start line, he added: “I’ve been doing a bit of training, as people might have seen, even in the newspapers.

“But the dodgy running shorts have definitely been left at home in Manchester.

Mr Burnham donated 15% of his first month’s salary as prime minister to Changing Lives, after promising to give a share of his wages to charity each month.

Andy Burnham running near his house (Peter Powell/PA) PA Wire Stephen Bell, Changing Lives chief executive, said: “We’re delighted that Andy is running for Changing Lives and grateful to everyone who gets behind him.

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