Andy Burnham set to become UK PM as Labour leadership race opens
Labour has formally opened its leadership contest with Andy Burnham as the only candidate. His unopposed path could make him prime minister within days and sharpen focus on devolution and defence.
Andy Burnham appeared set to become Britain’s next prime minister as the process to elect a new Labour Party leader formally opened on Thursday. Burnham remains the only candidate in the race to succeed Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation last month.
Under the timetable set by Labour’s National Executive Committee, candidates have until July 15 to secure the backing of at least 81 MPs. With Burnham the sole contender so far, the process is widely seen as a formality and he is likely to be in place as Labour leader and prime minister by July 20.
Burnham, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester and newly elected MP for Makerfield, set out his priorities in an article in The Times. “As prime minister, my priority will be protecting the UK by boosting defence spending, reviving local industry and strengthening our alliances,” he said. “I see our strength at home and our strength in the world as indivisible. Through No. 10 North, and the devolution of power to all parts of the UK, we will take a new approach to regenerating and re-industrialising the country, and thereby strengthening its resilience.
“That same approach will consider foreign policy, economic policy, security, social cohesion and British values as inextricably linked elements of the same strategic question,” he stated. The 56-year-old has earlier described “No. 10 North” as a symbol of his push to devolve power to regions outside the centralised grip of No. 10 Downing Street in London. “Doing politics differently means levelling with the public, engaging them in decisions and ensuring more social value in return for increased government spending,” he said.
Under NEC rules, July 13 has been set aside for candidates to take part in a parliamentary hustings and answer questions from Labour MPs. If Burnham secures 323 nominations, it would be mathematically impossible for any rival to reach the 81-MP threshold needed to enter the contest. If he remains the only candidate, he would instead hold a solo hustings with party colleagues.
The shape of Burnham’s top team and Cabinet is unlikely to be clear before the formal process closes. Even if he is elected unopposed as Labour leader by July 17, he would become prime minister only after Starmer formally tenders his resignation to King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. The King would then invite Burnham to form a government, making July 20 his first official working day as prime minister.
If another candidate enters the race before the deadline, the leadership election would run through Parliament’s summer recess from July 16 onwards, with Starmer staying on as caretaker prime minister until the new session opens on September 1. As matters stand, Burnham is on course to become Britain’s seventh prime minister in 10 years, and another leader to enter No. 10 mid-term after a general election. He has also signalled his commitment to the manifesto on which Starmer led Labour to a landslide in July 2024, with the next general election expected in 2029.
With PTI Inputs
Andy Burnham appeared set to become Britain’s next prime minister as the process to elect a new Labour Party leader formally opened on Thursday. Burnham remains the only candidate in the race to succeed Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation last month.
Under the timetable set by Labour’s National Executive Committee, candidates have until July 15 to secure the backing of at least 81 MPs. With Burnham the sole contender so far, the process is widely seen as a formality and he is likely to be in place as Labour leader and prime minister by July 20.
Burnham, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester and newly elected MP for Makerfield, set out his priorities in an article in The Times. “As prime minister, my priority will be protecting the UK by boosting defence spending, reviving local industry and strengthening our alliances,” he said. “I see our strength at home and our strength in the world as indivisible. Through No. 10 North, and the devolution of power to all parts of the UK, we will take a new approach to regenerating and re-industrialising the country, and thereby strengthening its resilience.
“That same approach will consider foreign policy, economic policy, security, social cohesion and British values as inextricably linked elements of the same strategic question,” he stated. The 56-year-old has earlier described “No. 10 North” as a symbol of his push to devolve power to regions outside the centralised grip of No. 10 Downing Street in London. “Doing politics differently means levelling with the public, engaging them in decisions and ensuring more social value in return for increased government spending,” he said.
Under NEC rules, July 13 has been set aside for candidates to take part in a parliamentary hustings and answer questions from Labour MPs. If Burnham secures 323 nominations, it would be mathematically impossible for any rival to reach the 81-MP threshold needed to enter the contest. If he remains the only candidate, he would instead hold a solo hustings with party colleagues.
The shape of Burnham’s top team and Cabinet is unlikely to be clear before the formal process closes. Even if he is elected unopposed as Labour leader by July 17, he would become prime minister only after Starmer formally tenders his resignation to King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. The King would then invite Burnham to form a government, making July 20 his first official working day as prime minister.
If another candidate enters the race before the deadline, the leadership election would run through Parliament’s summer recess from July 16 onwards, with Starmer staying on as caretaker prime minister until the new session opens on September 1. As matters stand, Burnham is on course to become Britain’s seventh prime minister in 10 years, and another leader to enter No. 10 mid-term after a general election. He has also signalled his commitment to the manifesto on which Starmer led Labour to a landslide in July 2024, with the next general election expected in 2029.
With PTI Inputs
