Labour is on the brink of anointing Andy Burnham as its next leader without a contest, senior party figures have said, as the race to replace Sir Keir Starmer narrows to a single candidate. The party set out a timeline for a leadership contest following the prime minister’s resignation earlier this week, but there is scant evidence of support for any contender other than Burnham.
Lucy Powell, the deputy leader, told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: “I’m pleased that actually what it looks like is we’re probably going to have just the one candidate in Andy Burnham. How refreshing that would be – that the whole Labour Party is agreed on the new leader and we don’t have to go through a contest that could be damaging at this point in time.”
“Labour figures say party unites behind Andy Burnham as next leader, likely without a contest.”
Steve Reed, the housing secretary who had stayed loyal to Sir Keir, agreed the party was “going to move very swiftly to uniting behind Andy Burnham” without “turning inwards”, which he described as “absolutely essential”. West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin also backed Burnham, telling Channel 4 News that his attitude was “exactly what we need”.
But the coronation is not yet guaranteed. Former defence minister Al Carns said a speech on Monday, in which Burnham will set out his economic policy, will decide whether he challenges him for the Labour leadership. The prospect of a contest has prompted calls for a general election, with Reform UK’s Nigel Farage demanding an immediate poll. However, the Conservatives have not joined that call.
Shadow housing secretary James Cleverly told the BBC that a general election would delay key decisions, particularly on defence spending. “I, of course, did not call for one when we changed leaders mid-term, but there is a job of work to be done and we should get on with it,” he said.
Powell was among then-opposition figures to call for a general election when the Conservatives forced Liz Truss out of office in 2022, but denied hypocrisy. “I think we were in very particular times after Liz Truss crashed the economy,” she said, adding: “People want us to get on with the job and deliver the change they want to see.” Reed echoed that this time was very different as the Tories had repeatedly changed leader while in government.
With Burnham appearing on course for the leadership, Labour’s focus is shifting to unity. “Now we’ve all got to get behind that leader and stop the kind of infighting and chitter chatter from the background,” Powell said.