Andy Burnham is now just one nomination away from becoming Labour leader unopposed, putting him on course to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Britain’s next prime minister within days.
Andy Burnham has taken a major step toward becoming the United Kingdom’s next prime minister after securing the backing of 322 Labour MPs in the first official tally of nominations for the party’s leadership contest.
The former Greater Manchester mayor, who only returned to Westminster after winning the Makerfield by-election a few weeks ago, is the only declared candidate seeking to replace Sir Keir Starmer.
His total leaves him just one nomination short of the 323 required to make it mathematically impossible for any rival to qualify for the contest. Several MPs who were unable to vote on Thursday have already indicated they intend to back Burnham once Parliament reconvenes.
If no other candidate enters the race, as many within the party expect, Burnham will be confirmed as Labour leader next week and is due to become prime minister on 20 July.
The development marks a remarkable political comeback for Burnham, who previously lost Labour leadership contests in 2010 and 2015 before leaving Westminster in 2017 to become Greater Manchester’s mayor.
Reacting to the wave of support, Burnham thanked colleagues across the party for placing their confidence in him.
“I am deeply grateful to the Labour MPs who have nominated me. The support has come from across our movement and reflects a shared belief that Britain needs a new approach to politics.”
He said his leadership would focus on shifting power away from Westminster and giving communities greater control over their future.
“That is the circuit breaker I am offering: power out of Westminster, an economy rewired for ordinary people, and good growth in every postcode.”
Burnham also showed a lighter side during an appearance at the Silver Clef music awards in London, where he joked about Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s decision to trigger a by-election in Clacton.
Addressing the audience, he quipped:
“Count Binface, you are carrying the hopes of the nation. Don’t let us down.”
His rapid rise follows Labour’s heavy losses in May’s local elections, which intensified pressure on Sir Keir Starmer. Facing growing calls from within his own party to step aside, Starmer resigned as Labour leader on the same day Burnham was sworn in as an MP, saying he no longer believed he was the best person to lead Labour into the next general election.
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Leadership hopefuls have until next Wednesday to secure the support of at least 81 Labour MPs to qualify for the race. However, Burnham’s commanding lead has effectively closed the door on any serious challenge.
Former defence minister Al Carns, who had been considering entering the contest, confirmed on Wednesday that he would not stand, strengthening expectations that Burnham will take the leadership unopposed.
Even so, some Labour MPs have urged Burnham to provide more detail about his plans before taking office.
A parliamentary hustings is scheduled for next week, where Burnham is expected to answer questions from fellow MPs about his vision for government.
Behind the scenes, discussions with senior civil servants are already underway to prepare for a possible transition of power. The talks are being coordinated by Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo.
Sir Keir Starmer has also publicly endorsed his successor, describing Burnham as someone capable of leading the country.
Burnham has already outlined several priorities he intends to pursue if he becomes prime minister. These include creating a new Downing Street unit based in Manchester to oversee the transfer of more powers to local authorities, particularly in housing and transport.
He has also pledged to give communities greater public control over the water and energy sectors, although the details of those proposals are still being developed.
In recent days, Burnham acknowledged that Labour’s initial response to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza “didn’t get it right” and said the party must do better under his leadership.
He has also indicated he wants to retain national security adviser Jonathan Powell and has backed higher defence spending, while promising greater transparency over military procurement and government spending decisions.
With overwhelming support already secured and no serious challenger in sight, Burnham now appears firmly on course to lead Labour and the country within the coming days.
