Andy Burnham moves closer to becoming Labour leader and prime minister after winning overwhelming backing from Labour MPs.
Andy Burnham has moved to the brink of becoming Labour leader and the UK’s next prime minister after securing the backing of 322 Labour MPs in the first official tally of nominations to succeed Sir Keir Starmer.
The former Greater Manchester mayor, who is the only declared candidate in the contest, has won support from 322 of Labour’s 402 MPs, leaving him just one nomination short of the 323 required to make it mathematically impossible for another candidate to enter the race. Some MPs who were unable to vote on Thursday said they would back Burnham when Parliament resumes.
If no rival enters the contest, as widely expected, Burnham will be declared Labour leader next week before taking office as prime minister on 20 July, marking a dramatic return to frontline politics following his recent by-election victory in Makerfield.
In a statement, Burnham said he was “deeply grateful” for the support he had received.
“I am deeply grateful to the Labour MPs who have nominated me to be leader of the party.”
He said the nominations reflected broad support across Labour for a new political direction.
“The support has come from across the party and reflects a shared belief that Britain needs a new approach to politics.”
Setting out his vision, Burnham said. “That is the circuit breaker I am offering: power out of Westminster, an economy rewired for ordinary people, and good growth in every postcode.”
Later on Thursday, Burnham made a light-hearted reference to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s decision to trigger a by-election in Clacton while speaking at the Silver Clef music awards at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
“The legends that we’re here to honour have not shied away from politics in their career, but I promise you, I am not going to talk politics to you tonight Except to say this, ‘Count Binface, you are carrying the hopes of the nation. Don’t let us down.”
Burnham’s emergence as overwhelming favourite follows his by-election victory and Labour’s heavy losses in May’s local elections, developments that intensified pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to step down. Sir Keir resigned on the same day Burnham was sworn in as an MP, saying he had concluded he was no longer “best placed to lead us into the next general election.”
Candidates have until next Wednesday to secure nominations from at least 81 Labour MPs to enter the leadership contest. Burnham must also receive nominations from at least three of Labour’s 31 affiliated trade unions and socialist societies, a requirement expected to be easily met.
With former defence minister Al Carns ruling himself out of the race on Wednesday, Burnham is on course to become Labour leader without a vote among party members or affiliated union supporters.
The prospect of an uncontested leadership has prompted calls from some Labour MPs for Burnham to provide greater detail about the policies he would pursue if he enters Downing Street.
Having left Westminster in 2017 to become Greater Manchester mayor, Burnham has had limited opportunities to build relationships with many of Labour’s newer MPs, who now make up most of the parliamentary party. He is expected to be the only participant at an official parliamentary hustings scheduled for next week, where MPs will question him about his plans for government.
Meanwhile, Burnham has begun access talks with senior civil servants, led by Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo, to discuss his policy programme should he become prime minister.
Sir Keir Starmer also endorsed Burnham’s leadership credentials as nominations formally opened. “I have known him a long time, I’ve worked with him when I first came to Parliament, in his team directly.”
Burnham has already outlined parts of his agenda, including creating a new No. 10 unit based in Manchester to oversee the transfer of greater powers over housing and transport to local authorities.
He has also pledged to give communities greater public control over the water and energy sectors, although he has yet to explain how those proposals would work in practice.
In a video posted on X, Burnham apologised for Labour’s initial response to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, saying the party didn’t get it right and needed to improve under his leadership.
