Andy Burnham is just one parliamentary signature away from securing the Labour leadership and becoming prime minister, after 322 of his party’s MPs nominated him to replace Sir Keir Starmer. The former Greater Manchester mayor needs 323 nominations to make it mathematically impossible for a rival to enter the contest, and with no other declared candidate, he is expected to clear that bar next week when absent MPs return to Parliament. If no one else stands, Burnham will be declared Labour leader before taking office on 20 July.
The speed of Burnham’s rise has been extraordinary. He was only elected to Parliament weeks ago in a by-election in Makerfield, the seat he once held before serving as mayor. That victory, combined with heavy Labour losses in May’s local elections, triggered calls from Labour MPs for Starmer to stand aside. Starmer resigned on the same day Burnham was sworn in as an MP, saying in his resignation speech that he had heard the answer to the question of whether “I am best placed to lead us into the next general election”.
“Andy Burnham is one nomination short of Labour leadership, set to become PM on 20 July.”
Burnham, in a statement, said he was “deeply grateful” to the MPs who nominated him, hailing the support as “a shared belief that Britain needs a new approach to politics”. He promised “a circuit breaker: power out of Westminster, an economy rewired for ordinary people, and good growth in every postcode.”
Later on Thursday, Burnham turned his attention to a different contest: the by-election triggered by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in his own constituency of Clacton. Labour and other main parties are boycotting the vote, but the serial comedian candidate Count Binface is standing. Speaking at the Silver Clef music awards at the Royal Albert Hall, where he presented the Legend Award to Manchester band James, Burnham told the audience: “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 opponents have until Wednesday next week to gather the backing of 81 Labour MPs to enter the leadership race. With his nomination tally already at 322, the path to Downing Street appears all but sealed.