Andy Burnham is set to become Britain’s next prime minister after he succeeded Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader on Friday, reports BritPanorama.
The swift developments will place the former Manchester mayor in office less than a month after Starmer announced his intention to stand down.
Burnham’s rise to leadership required his election as a Labour MP followed by a successful party leadership bid. However, with all potential challengers stepping aside for the veteran politician, his path to Number 10 was unexpectedly clear.
Labour MPs had the opportunity to nominate their new leader from July 9 to 16. By the end of the nomination process, Burnham received 379 out of 403 nominations (94 per cent), making it impossible for any other candidate to acquire the requisite 20 per cent to contest against him.
This rapid timeline means Burnham is poised to take office sooner than initially anticipated.
Friday 17 July – New Labour leader announced
On Friday, Burnham was officially confirmed as Labour leader during a special conference held around midday.
He stated his commitment to be “unashamedly Labour” as leader and prime minister, pledging that his government would possess “the courage to fix the big things that politics has neglected” and the “conviction to argue for our plans.”
“We are united and we put the power that comes from that unity at the service of people and places who have been waiting too long for politics to let them hope again,” Burnham declared.
He further emphasized, “That’s what we’re going to do; everybody. We’re going to give them hope back.”
On his final day as Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer was in Ukraine, where he met President Volodymyr Zelensky. In a statement to Sky News, he remarked, “I go with pride,” asserting that he felt he had “saved the Labour Party” by restoring its electability.
Monday 20 July – Burnham becomes prime minister
The upcoming weekend holds particular significance for Burnham, as he will be the leader of the country’s largest party, yet not officially the prime minister.
On Monday, Starmer will formally resign as prime minister in a meeting with King Charles, likely at Buckingham Palace.
Following this, Burnham will meet with the King, who will invite him to form a government.
Afterward, the former Manchester mayor is expected to travel to Number 10 to deliver a speech marking the start of his administration.
On this day, the highly anticipated cabinet reshuffle will likely be disclosed as Burnham announces his leadership team to implement his ambitious political vision.
How did we get here?
The journey to this point has been tumultuous, with Starmer’s departure paving the way for the ‘King of the North’. A few key events led to this leadership transition:
May 7 – Labour’s disastrous local elections
Voters across England faced the polls, resulting in significant losses for Labour, which lost control of 38 councils due to a surge in support for Reform UK and the Green Party.
This setback triggered a leadership crisis within Labour, prompting four junior ministers to resign, followed by former health secretary Wes Streeting.
May 14 – A Westminster opening
In a strategic move, Josh Simons resigned from his Makerfield seat to instigate a by-election, clearing the way for Burnham to return to Westminster.
June 18 – Burnham wins in Makerfield
Burnham secured a decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election, winning by over 9,000 votes, which marked the end of his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester and signaled his return to the House of Commons.
June 22 – Starmer announces resignation
Starmer, citing dwindling confidence among his MPs, announced his resignation as Labour leader and prime minister, thereby initiating the leadership contest.
