(July 10): Andy Burnham’s path to becoming the next UK prime minister looks certain after a vast majority of Labour MPs formally nominated him to be the next party leader.
At the end of the first day of the party’s leadership contest to replace Keir Starmer, 322 of 403 Labour members of Parliament voted for Burnham.
Responding to the confirmation of the vote number, Burnham said he was “deeply grateful” for the support he’s received from party colleagues, saying it “reflects a shared belief that Britain needs a new approach to politics”.
“That is the circuit breaker I am offering: power out of Westminster, an economy rewired for ordinary people, and good growth in every postcode,” he said in a statement published online. “I want to thank every colleague who has nominated me for their commitment to that vision.”
With one more vote Burnham is officially confirmed as the sole candidate in the race by preventing any possible rival from being able to secure the required 81 nominations to stand against him.
Starmer is not expected to cast a vote because, under party convention, the outgoing leader does not participate in the nomination process.
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As a result, there isn’t expected to be a late challenger standing in the race and Burnham will become party leader when the race closes on Friday, July 17.
Burnham is then expected to formally become prime minister the following working day, Monday July 20.
Asked about Burnham’s nominations, Health Secretary James Murray said on Friday morning that he was “really excited” about the new administration.
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MPs are “rallying around Andy and saying that he is the right person to lead the Labour Party and the country into the years ahead,” Murray told Sky News, as the party prepared to open nominations for a second day. “Compare it to what has happened in the past with all sorts of squabbles when the Conservative Party change leader. The way that we’re changing leader is a smooth transition.”
A day after Burnham apologised for Labour’s initial stance on the war in Gaza, and rebuked Starmer’s government for being too slow to call for a ceasefire, Murray conceded that the government made mistakes. “It’s right for him to reflect on what’s happened in the past and to set out his own position,” Murray said of Burnham.
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