LONDON, United Kingdom – Andy Burnham is on course to become the United Kingdom’s next prime minister after securing overwhelming support from Labour lawmakers on Thursday as nominations opened to replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Burnham received the backing of 322 of Labour’s 403 members of Parliament — about 80% of the parliamentary party — far surpassing the 81 nominations required to enter the leadership contest.
The level of support makes it highly unlikely that another Labour lawmaker will secure enough nominations to challenge him.
“I am deeply grateful” for the support of Labour MPs, Burnham said on social media, adding that it reflected “a shared belief that Britain needs a new approach to politics.”
Leadership contest effectively decided
Labour lawmakers spent the day submitting nomination papers at the party’s parliamentary office as Burnham formally entered the race by nominating himself.
“It’s all starting to feel very real,” Burnham said in a social media video.
Nominations remain open until July 16. If no viable challenger emerges, Burnham is expected to be confirmed as Labour leader the following day before formally becoming prime minister after meeting King Charles III on July 20.
Under Britain’s parliamentary system, the governing party can replace its leader — and therefore the prime minister — without holding a general election. The next nationwide vote is not required until 2029.
Rivals step aside
Potential challengers have largely ruled themselves out.
Former Defense Minister Al Carns confirmed Wednesday that he would not seek the leadership, endorsing Burnham instead.
“I’d hoped a leadership contest would give us the opportunity for a proper debate,” Carns said in a statement. “But months of internal Labour politics isn’t what the country needs right now. We’ve got to get on with the job. Andy Burnham’s earned this and he’s got my full backing.”
Burnham’s rapid rise follows nearly a decade as mayor of Greater Manchester before returning to Parliament through a special election last month.
His leadership bid accelerated after Starmer announced last month that he would resign once Labour selected a successor.
Starmer, who won a landslide general election victory in July 2024, stepped down after two years in office amid declining political support following a series of policy missteps and controversies.
Burnham promises economic renewal
Burnham has pledged to revive Britain’s economy through a strategy he calls “Manchesterism,” centered on expanding investment in transport, housing and infrastructure using both public and private funding.
He argues the approach can reverse nearly two decades of sluggish economic growth that followed the 2008 global financial crisis.
If confirmed as prime minister, however, Burnham will inherit many of the same challenges facing the outgoing government, including slow economic growth, pressure on the National Health Service, strains on the welfare system and persistent cost-of-living concerns.
Foreign policy continuity with some differences
Burnham has pledged to maintain Britain’s commitment to NATO and the country’s nuclear deterrent while continuing strong support for Ukraine and close relations with the United States.
Writing in The Times on Thursday, he said Britain’s commitment to both alliances would remain unchanged.
However, Burnham also signaled a shift in tone on the war in Gaza, saying Labour “didn’t get it right” during the early stages of the conflict.
While condemning Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel that killed around 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken, Burnham said the British government had been “too slow to call for a ceasefire.”
He also said the United Kingdom would consider imposing additional sanctions on individuals involved in violence in Gaza and examine measures to prohibit trade in goods originating from Israeli settlements that Britain considers illegal.
His comments came as the Gaza Health Ministry reported that 73,110 Palestinians have been killed during the conflict. The ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government, is staffed by medical professionals whose casualty records are widely used by United Nations agencies and independent experts.
This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.
Article Topics: United Kingdom | Andy Burnham | Labour Party | Keir Starmer | UK Politics | Leadership Election | Europe | Prime Minister
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