Burnham asks for ‘manual trawl’ of records for former Man City links

Andy Burnham has requested a manual search of local authority records regarding his past contact with Manchester City to ensure full transparency. Burnham, now serving as prime minister after nearly a decade as Greater Manchester mayor, has faced scrutiny over previous links to the club. The request comes amid growing questions after records of two hospitality dinners with City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak in 2017 and 2018 were removed from the authority's website.

Manchester City was recently found guilty of systematically breaching Premier League financial rules between 2009 and 2018, allegations the club continues to deny as it appeals. Burnham's political opponents, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, have accused him of attempting to conceal his meetings with the club's leadership.