LONDON — Andy Burnham is on the verge of becoming Labour leader and Britain’s next prime minister after securing the overwhelming backing of Labour MPs in a dramatic march towards Downing Street.
Burnham has received nominations from 322 of Labour’s 403 MPs, leaving him just one nomination short of the point at which it would become mathematically impossible for a rival candidate to enter the leadership contest.
He remains the only declared candidate in the race to replace Sir Keir Starmer.
Several Labour MPs who were unable to participate in Thursday’s nomination process are also expected to formally back Burnham when they return to Parliament, further strengthening the former Greater Manchester mayor’s grip on the leadership.
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If no rival enters the contest before nominations close, Burnham is expected to be declared Labour leader next week and take office as prime minister on 20 July.
The development represents a remarkable return to Westminster and an extraordinary rise to the country’s highest political office, coming just weeks after Burnham won the Makerfield by-election.
In a statement, Burnham said he was “deeply grateful” to Labour MPs who had nominated him, describing the broad support as evidence of a shared desire for a new political direction.
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The backing, he said, had come from across the Labour Party and reflected 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,” Burnham said.
Burnham Jokes About Farage By-Election
Later on Thursday, Burnham briefly turned his attention to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s decision to trigger a by-election in Clacton, where Farage intends to stand again.
Labour and other major political parties are boycotting the contest, although satirical political candidate Count Binface has entered the race.
Speaking at the Silver Clef music awards at London’s Royal Albert Hall, where he presented the Legend Award to Manchester indie band James, Burnham promised not to deliver a political speech before making a light-hearted exception.
“The legends that we’re here to honour have not shied away from politics in their career, but I promise you, I am not going to talk politics to you tonight,” Burnham said.
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He then added: “Except to say this, ‘Count Binface, you are carrying the hopes of the nation. Don’t let us down.'”
Starmer’s Exit Opens Door to Burnham
Burnham’s return to Parliament followed heavy Labour losses in May’s local elections, which intensified pressure on Sir Keir Starmer from MPs questioning whether he should continue leading the party into another general election.
Sir Keir resigned as Labour leader on the same day Burnham was sworn in as an MP.
In his resignation speech, the outgoing prime minister said he had heard the answer to the question of whether he remained “best placed to lead us into the next general election”.
Candidates seeking to challenge Burnham have until Wednesday next week to secure the backing of at least 81 Labour MPs.
If Burnham reaches 323 parliamentary nominations, no other potential candidate would be able to secure the required threshold.
He would also need nominations from at least three of Labour’s 31 affiliated socialist societies and trade unions. That requirement is widely expected to be a formality.
Should Burnham remain unopposed, he would become Labour leader without a summer ballot involving party members and affiliated trade union supporters.
‘Third Time Lucky’
Dozens of Labour MPs have already publicly confirmed their support for Burnham on social media.
Burnham also nominated himself, joking that it would be “hopefully third time lucky” following his unsuccessful Labour leadership campaigns in 2010 and 2015.
His path towards an uncontested leadership contest became clearer after former defence minister Al Carns, who had been viewed as a possible challenger, ruled himself out of the race.
However, the prospect of Burnham entering Downing Street without a full leadership contest has prompted some Labour figures to demand greater clarity about his policy agenda.
Burnham left Westminster in 2017, meaning he has had fewer opportunities to build close political relationships with Labour MPs elected in subsequent years.
Many of those newer MPs now make up a significant proportion of Labour’s representation in the House of Commons.
As the only declared candidate, Burnham could also be the sole participant in a parliamentary hustings scheduled for Monday, where Labour MPs are expected to question him about his plans for government.
Meanwhile, “access talks” between Burnham’s team and senior civil servants are continuing. The discussions are being overseen by Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo, Britain’s most senior civil servant.
Sir Keir has publicly backed Burnham’s credentials for the country’s top job.
“I have known him a long time, I’ve worked with him when I first came to Parliament, in his team directly,” Sir Keir said, adding that Burnham would make a good prime minister.
Burnham Sets Out Blueprint for Government
Burnham has already begun outlining elements of his proposed programme for government.
During a speech in Manchester last week, he proposed establishing a new No 10 unit in the city as part of a wider effort to move political power away from Westminster.
The unit would focus on giving local authorities greater control over key areas including housing and transport.
Another major element of Burnham’s political agenda is a promise to give communities across the United Kingdom “greater public control” over the water and energy sectors.
However, further details about how the policy would operate have yet to be announced.
Burnham has also addressed Labour’s response to Israel’s military action in Gaza.
In a video posted on X, he apologised for the party’s initial handling of the issue, saying Labour “didn’t get it right” and promising that the party would do better under his leadership.
On national security, Burnham has indicated that he wants Sir Keir’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell, a former aide to Tony Blair, to remain in his position.
He has also called for a “sustained increase” in defence investment but has stopped short of committing to a specific spending target.
Burnham said the government must be more transparent with the British public about delays and cost overruns affecting military procurement.
In one of his final major decisions as prime minister, Sir Keir announced plans to increase military spending by £15 billion over the next four years.
The additional funding would come from reductions in spending elsewhere in government, although detailed decisions on where the cuts will fall have been left to his successor.
With Burnham now just one nomination away from effectively closing the Labour leadership contest to challengers, Britain’s political attention is rapidly shifting towards the prospect of a new prime minister entering Downing Street within days.
