Andy Burnham is poised to become the United Kingdom’s next Prime Minister, following an overwhelming show of support from Labour MPs who have nominated him to succeed Sir Keir Starmer.
A total of 322 Labour MPs have formally backed Mr Burnham, effectively guaranteeing his ascent to the party’s leadership.
This substantial backing means that 80 per cent of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) has thrown its weight behind the former Greater Manchester mayor.
With only 81 Labour MPs remaining who could potentially nominate another contender, and the convention that an outgoing leader does not nominate a candidate, there are no longer enough undeclared MPs to support an alternative to Mr Burnham.
He secured these nominations by Thursday evening, the first day MPs could formally endorse a leadership candidate.
Even before nominations officially opened, Mr Burnham was widely expected to be crowned Labour leader, having been the sole declared candidate in the race to replace Sir Keir.
The sheer scale of his support within the parliamentary party now renders any late challenge virtually impossible, as securing the required nominations would be unattainable.
Mr Burnham expressed his profound gratitude to the 322 MPs who nominated him, stating that their support "comes from across the PLP and reflects a shared belief that Britain needs a new approach to politics".
He added: "I want to empower MPs to bring the experiences of their constituents into the heart of government and harness the full breadth of our Labour movement, drawing on all its traditions and beliefs in pursuit of a common purpose. I want to thank every colleague who has nominated me for their commitment to that vision."
Almost every member of the Cabinet endorsed Mr Burnham, including figures previously considered potential challengers such as former health secretary Wes Streeting and former armed forces minister Al Carns.
Mr Streeting had ruled himself out of contention shortly after Mr Burnham announced his candidacy following Sir Keir’s resignation on 22 June, while Mr Carns confirmed on Wednesday that he would not put himself forward.
Notably, key Starmer ally Steve Reed was one of only three Cabinet members who did not nominate Mr Burnham on Thursday, alongside Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and party chairwoman Anna Turley.
However, this does not necessarily indicate a lack of support, as nominations require in-person submission or a limited number of proxy votes.
Sir Keir Starmer himself offered a strong endorsement, telling reporters on Thursday that he believed Mr Burnham would make a good Prime Minister, noting their long-standing acquaintance.
The Prime Minister highlighted their close collaboration on the Investigatory Powers Bill in 2015, when Mr Burnham was shadow home secretary, and their work since 2024 on Northern Powerhouse Rail, which he cited as "an example of devolution at its best".
Sir Keir also praised Mr Burnham’s response to last year’s attack on the Heaton Park synagogue, recalling: "Andy was the first person I phoned to find out what was happening, where things were at. When I went to Manchester, I spent the whole time with him, with the community and with others.
So, I’ve always worked very well with Andy." When asked if Mr Burnham would be a better Prime Minister than him, Sir Keir responded with a laugh: "These are things best judged by other people."
Meanwhile, Mr Burnham has begun to outline his vision for British foreign policy, signalling a tougher stance towards Israel regarding its military operations in Gaza.
In a social media video, he apologised for Labour’s previous position, admitting the party "didn’t get it right" and that the UK had been "too slow to call for a ceasefire".
Mr Burnham suggested his government would "do more to strengthen our approach", including "looking at further sanctions, both on those involved in the violence in Gaza, but also looking at measures to ban trade in goods with illegal settlements".
These comments followed an article in The Times where he affirmed his commitment to Nato, the nuclear deterrent, maintaining close ties with the US, supporting Ukraine, and fostering closer relations with the EU.
Nominations officially remain open until 16 July. In the absence of any other candidates, Mr Burnham is expected to be formally declared Labour leader at a special conference on 17 July and is anticipated to become Prime Minister on 20 July.
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Full list of MPs to nominate Andy Burnham for Labour leadership
