Burnham Confirms Leadership Bid As Starmer Resigns

Veteran UK politician Andy Burnham confirmed on Monday that he would seek to replace Keir Starmer as leader of the ruling Labour Party and prime minister, shortly after Starmer announced his resignation outside 10 Downing Street.

Burnham, 56, called for an “orderly and responsible” transition after Starmer, 63, said he accepted with “good grace” that his party no longer believed he was the right person “to lead us into the next general election”. “I will put myself forward as part of this process,” Burnham wrote on X.

Former health secretary Wes Streeting, who had previously said he would join a leadership race, instead announced he would back Burnham, suggesting the former Manchester mayor could become leader without any formal contest. In a letter posted on social media, Streeting said he had “spoken at length with Andy in recent days” and was convinced that Burnham “is committed to building an inclusive party that draws on the best of our political traditions”. He added: “We could spend the summer exaggerating small differences, or we can roll up our sleeves and help him to deliver the change our party and our country needs”.

Starmer, who became prime minister on 5 July 2024 following Labour’s general election victory, announced he would remain in office until a new leader is selected, likely by September. He has asked Labour’s National Executive Committee to open nominations on 9 July and close them by the summer recess on 16 July. His decision means the UK will soon have its seventh prime minister since 2016.

The resignation followed mounting pressure after Burnham’s emphatic victory in the Makerfield by-election on Thursday, where he secured nearly 55 percent of the vote and increased Labour’s share while holding off Reform UK. Burnham, often dubbed the “King of the North,” served as Greater Manchester mayor for nine years before returning to Parliament. A poll conducted before the by-election found that 45 percent supported Burnham as prime minister, well ahead of Starmer on 24 percent.

Starmer, visibly emotional during his resignation speech, thanked his wife Victoria and said he would devote his future to his family. “Every decision I have taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as the leader of the Labour Party,” he said, noting he had already informed King Charles III of his decision. He added that he would give his successor “my full and unequivocal support”.

If Burnham runs unchallenged when nominations close on 16 July, he could become Labour leader and prime minister before Parliament returns in September. Burnham is expected to be sworn in as the MP for Makerfield on Monday afternoon.