Prominent figures from Britain’s ethnic and diverse  communities have welcomed the appointment of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, expressing hope that his leadership will strengthen social cohesion, broaden engagement with diverse communities and reinforce Britain’s global reputation for inclusion.

Among them to congratulate the new Prime Minister were Bobby Syed, founder of the internationally acclaimed EMMA Awards, which has welcomed the late Nelson Mandela and many distinguished international civil rights, cultural and Black leaders over the years.

President Mandela with Bobby Syed

Reflecting on a professional relationship dating back to 1998, Syed recalled working alongside Burnham when he served as adviser to then Culture Secretary Chris Smith, helping shape Britain’s creative industries.

“Andy has always been a man of the people. EMMA has always been about social cohesion and creating the togetherness that defines modern British culture. The only thing that destroys a nation is divide-and-rule politics. We all have to come together to make this nation and the world a better place for the next generation. Having Andy as Prime Minister is a start—it’s about having the right values to bring hope.”

Community campaigner Nic Careem, a leading advocate of the House of Commons Nelson Mandela Legacy Book, also praised Burnham’s long-standing encouragement of initiatives promoting equality and compassion.

Careem recalled meeting Burnham at Manchester City Hall two years ago to discuss the Legacy Book and its vision of building “a world free from hatred and injustice.”

«”Andy listened with genuine warmth, kindness and sincerity. He told me he was 100 per cent supportive of my plans and even encouraged another mayor to contribute to the Legacy Book. He has a genuine passion to improve our country for all its people, particularly those whose voices are too often unheard.”»

Careem added that by working across political, cultural and faith divides, Britain could continue Nelson Mandela’s vision of creating a fairer, kinder and more compassionate world.

TECD FOUNDATION and. NIDMECORP, through its Founder and Chief Executive, Mentoring Commandant Alistair, also welcomed the new Prime Minister’s appointment.

Ambassador Alistair said, Burnham’s previous service as Culture Secretary and his long-standing engagement with Britain’s creative and multicultural sectors had given many community organisations confidence that dialogue with ethnic platforms and community leaders would remain important.

He noted that the organisations and communities looks forward to working constructively with the new government, as it has done with successive administrations, to help strengthen communication between government, Britain’s diverse communities, the Commonwealth and Africa—building bridges that promote inclusion, enterprise, mutual understanding and national unity while remaining non-partisan and committed to serving the public interest.

As Prime Minister Burnham begins his tenure, various leaders say they hope his message of unity and hope will be reflected in policies that bring every community into Britain’s shared future.