On 22 June 2026, Sir Keir Starmer resigned as prime minister and Labour leader after less than two years in power, following intense pressure from his own party. The resignation, announced outside No 10, immediately triggered a contest to choose Labour's next leader — and the UK's next prime minister. The front-runner is Andy Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor who was sworn in as MP for Makerfield just hours earlier, after winning the seat in a by-election with more than 55% of the vote. The question now is whether Burnham will face a contest or be crowned uncontested, and what that means for the country.
The Labour Party selects its leader through a process that involves both its MPs and its wider membership. A candidate must first secure nominations from a set number of Labour MPs and other party bodies — such as affiliated trade unions and socialist societies. If only one candidate meets the threshold, they are declared leader without a vote. If multiple candidates qualify, the contest goes to a ballot of all Labour members, with the winner determined by a one-member-one-vote system. The process is designed to balance the views of the party's elected representatives and its grassroots supporters.
“How Labour chooses its leader after Starmer's resignation, and what it means for the UK.”
The current situation is unusual because Burnham is the only candidate to have publicly declared so far. Wes Streeting, who had previously indicated he would run, backed Burnham on the day of Starmer's resignation. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar — the first major party figure to call for Starmer to quit — said he would wait to see proposals before endorsing anyone. If no other candidate comes forward, Burnham would become leader without a contest — what some commentators have called a "coronation". Starmer himself said a new leader would be in place before Parliament returns from recess in September.
For UK readers, this matters because Labour is the governing party, so its leader becomes prime minister. A change at the top can shift policy direction on issues from the economy to foreign affairs. Burnham has already indicated he would apply a "Makerfield test" to decisions, meaning policy would be judged by whether it benefits neglected communities like his own constituency. He is expected to give a speech on economic policy next week. The speed of the transition also matters: an uncontested coronation would put Burnham in No 10 within weeks, while a full membership ballot could take until September.
Q: What is the Labour Party leadership election process? A: Candidates must first secure enough nominations from Labour MPs and affiliated organisations. If only one candidate meets the threshold, they become leader automatically. If multiple qualify, the contest goes to a ballot of all party members, who vote using a one-member-one-vote system. The winner is the candidate with the most votes.
Q: Who can become Labour leader? A: Any Labour MP can stand, provided they secure the required number of nominations. Candidates do not need to be a member of the House of Commons at the start of the contest — but Burnham became an MP on the same day Starmer resigned. The party's rules require the leader to be a member of the parliamentary party.
Q: How long does the leadership election take? A: The timetable is set by the party's National Executive Committee. Starmer has said a new leader will be in place before September. If there is only one candidate, the process can be completed in a matter of weeks. If there is a full contest, it typically takes two to three months from the nomination deadline to the result.
What happens next depends on whether other candidates emerge. Several Labour MPs, including Angela Rayner and Douglas Alexander, have publicly backed Burnham. The party will announce the rules and timetable for the contest in the coming days. Burnham is due to deliver a speech on fiscal policy next week, which will give the clearest signal yet of his direction as the likely next prime minister. All eyes are on whether any other MP will step forward — and whether Burnham will become the seventh prime minister in the UK in the last decade.