Labour MPs back Burnham as UKs next prime minister with unchallenged leadership bid
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2 months · 2 summary articles
Labour MPs back Burnham as UKs next prime minister with unchallenged leadership bid
Burnhams Makerfield by-election bid tests Labour leadership ambitions amid Reform UK challenge.
Follow-up
Andy Burnham is set to become the United Kingdom’s next prime minister after securing the backing of 349 Labour MPs, making it impossible for any rival to challenge his leadership bid.
Burnham, 56, a veteran politician who has served as the mayor of Greater Manchester for nearly a decade, is the only Labour MP to publicly declare his candidacy to replace outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer. With the support of 349 out of 403 Labour MPs, no other candidate can secure the 81 nominations needed to enter the leadership contest. After receiving the votes of 322 Labour MPs on the first day of nominations on Thursday, Burnham gained an additional 27 nominations by Monday afternoon, according to Labour’s public tally.
Burnham is expected to be elected as the new Labour leader on Friday and will take over as prime minister from Starmer next Monday. Starmer announced his resignation last month, bowing to months of internal pressure to resign after a series of scandals, missteps, and policy U-turns.
In a meeting with the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday night, Burnham promised to build a “broad church” cabinet that represents all wings of the party, as is the Labour movement’s tradition. He emphasized the importance of accountability, visibility, and accessibility in his leadership style, and expressed his desire to establish a feedback loop running from the PLP into local communities and back to the leadership and cabinet ministers.
“All appointments next week will reflect the idea that the party under my leadership will represent all wings of the party, reflecting ‘contribution, experience and commitment,’” Burnham told the PLP.
Burnham also outlined his administration’s focus on delivering growth in every region of the country, devolving more power to communities, and addressing the cost of living crisis. His focus on devolution and “the north” has left some Labour MPs anxious that only allies with constituencies in the north of England, or those linked to what some have described as the “blue Labour movement,” will see immediate benefits from his leadership and policies.
He began the meeting by paying tribute to Ann Widdecombe, a former MP who passed away last week, saying Labour’s thoughts are with her family and friends. He also urged politicians to give the police “the resources and space they need” to investigate her death.
Burnham’s rapid rise to the leadership comes after he won the Makerfield by-election in June. His nomination has been backed by all eligible members of Starmer’s current cabinet, except for Starmer himself and Shabana Mahmood, who cannot nominate due to her role as the national executive committee chair.
Burnham is expected to take over as prime minister on Monday, July 20, 2026.
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Articles
Slash power taxes, UK employers and energy sector urge new PM reut.rs/4h9DDX0
bluesky_Reuters · about 16 hours ago
Andy Burnham lesz a Munkáspárt új elnöke, hétfőtől pedig brit miniszterelnök Annyi ajánlást gyűjtött össze, hogy senki sem tud ellene elindulni.
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financial times · about 17 hours ago
Burnham to be next UK prime minister after securing more Labour MPs support Andy Burnham took another significant step on Monday towards becoming Britains next prime minister, netting additional Labour MPs nominations to give him an unassailable lead in the ruling partys leadership contest. The veteran politician, who has served as Greater Manchester mayor for nearly a decade, is the only Labour member of parliament to publicly declare themselves a candidate to replace outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer announced he was quitting last month, bowing to...
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financial times · about 19 hours ago
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aljazeera · about 20 hours ago
Eldőlt, hogy Andy Burnham lesz az Egyesült Királyság új miniszterelnöke A manchesteri politikust a frakció 403 tagja közül 349 támogatja, így másnak már nincs esélye összegyűjteni a jelöltséghez szükséges számú aláírást.
hvg.hu · about 20 hours ago
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Burnham har nok opbakning til at blive ny Labour-leder
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