Andy Burnham, the veteran Labour politician and Greater Manchester mayor, has moved decisively toward becoming the United Kingdom's next prime minister after securing the backing of 322 Labour MPs in the first round of nominations to replace Keir Starmer.
The 56-year-old, who returned to parliament last month via a by-election, is the only declared candidate in the race. With nominations closing on 16 July, Burnham needs just one more MP to reach the threshold of 323 that would mathematically preclude any other challenger from entering the contest, as 81 signatures would be required from the total of 402 Labour MPs.
"It is all starting to feel very real," Burnham said in a video posted on social media after the nomination process opened on Thursday morning. If no rival emerges, he will be formally crowned Labour leader and prime minister-in-waiting at a special conference on 17 July, before replacing Starmer at 10 Downing Street on 20 July after meeting King Charles. That would make him Britain's seventh prime minister in a decade.
Armed forces minister Al Carns, widely seen as Burnham's last potential challenger, ruled himself out late on Wednesday. Carns had expressed a desire for a leadership contest to allow "a proper debate" but concluded that "months of internal Labour politics isn't what the country needs right now."
From Manchester to Downing Street
Burnham, nicknamed the "King of the North" after winning three consecutive Greater Manchester mayoral elections, has built his platform around a promise to "bring about the biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen." His signature proposal is the creation of a "No. 10 North" to coordinate greater devolution, a direct reference to the prime minister's official residence. This vision is detailed in his pledge to reshape UK governance with devolution and a northern power base.
On fiscal policy, Burnham has committed to the government's current borrowing limits and promised to reduce the country's ballooning welfare bill, seeking to reassure markets. However, he will inherit the same challenges that plagued Starmer's premiership: anaemic economic growth, a persistent cost-of-living squeeze, and the unpredictability of US President Donald Trump.
Burnham has also signalled a potential shift on foreign policy, particularly regarding Israel. While Starmer's government offered solid backing to Israel during its war in Gaza, Burnham told the Guardian in an interview published Thursday: "I am sorry about that. The response has too often not been good enough. We need to do better."
Starmer announced his resignation on 22 June after losing the support of Labour MPs, following months of pressure over policy U-turns and questions about his judgment. His departure was triggered by Burnham's by-election victory, which allowed the former MP—who served in parliament from 2001 to 2017—to return to Westminster and launch his leadership challenge. Shortly after Starmer's announcement, some 200 Labour MPs gathered for a group photo with Burnham in Westminster, a clear signal of their expectation that he would take over.
Former health minister Wes Streeting, who had initially considered running, dropped his intention and endorsed Burnham. Surveys show Burnham is Labour's most popular politician, seen as slightly to the left of the more centrist Starmer and more charismatic. Many MPs view him as the party's best chance to reclaim support from Nigel Farage's anti-immigrant Reform UK party ahead of the next general election, expected in 2029. Reform has led Labour in national opinion polls for over a year, though the gap has narrowed recently amid questions over Farage's finances.
One Labour MP, speaking anonymously, said the party was right to "roll the dice" on Burnham, adding: "He couldn't be worse than Starmer."
