- Andy Burnham is poised to become the to be the next prime minister having secured an overwhelming 322 nominations from Labour MPs to succeed Sir Keir Starmer.
- The total number of nominations leaves only 81 Labour MPs who could potentially nominate an alternative contender, which is the minimum required to secure a place on the ballot.
- However, established convention dictates that the outgoing leader does not nominate a candidate, meaning there are now insufficient undeclared MPs to support any rival to Mr Burnham.
- The former Greater Manchester mayor achieved this significant milestone by 5pm on Thursday, the very first day MPs were able to formally endorse a leadership candidate.
- “As the first day of nominations draws to a close, I am deeply grateful to the 322 Labour MPs who have put their trust in me and nominated me for leader of the Labour Party,” Burnham wrote on X.
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