Speaking about his switch from Greater Manchester Mayor to Prime Minister, Mr Burnham told Elizabeth Day on the How to Fail podcast: "She was like: ‘Not again; they’ve told you twice they don’t want you'." Andy Burnham tied the knot with his wife in 2000 | PA“That’s the kind of feedback I’ve had from her,” Mr Burnham said. Mr Burnham, who has three children with his Belgian-raised wife, met Ms Van Heel in 1989 when the pair studied at Cambridge University. Ms Van Heel eventually married Mr Burnham in 2000 and is now the chief marketing officer of Iduna Infrastructure. But Mr Burnham will remain in direct contact with officials and continue holding meetings during his break.