Andy Burnham faces scrutiny over undisclosed loans to Sheikh Mansour's property firms

In 2017 the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, chaired by then-Mayor Andy Burnham, approved £31.2 million in public loans to New Little Mill and Vesta Street, both owned via Jersey by Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nehayan, the billionaire behind Manchester City. A further £24.5 million was later granted to Lampwick Developments Limited, another Mansour-controlled entity. These transactions were never recorded as conflicts of interest, and minutes show Burnham presided over the decisions.

Subsequent revelations show Burnham accepted free tickets and dined with Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak on multiple occasions, yet GMCA disclosures omitted those events. The scandal has been amplified by a recent independent commission finding Manchester City guilty of 114 Premier League rule breaches. Burnham’s promise to publish all dealings resulted in a brief statement that omitted key meetings, prompting criticism from opposition politicians and calls for a full audit. The episode raises questions about the transparency of public funds and the influence of foreign investors on local governance.