Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet ministers have backed Andy Burnham to be prime minister as the leadership frontrunner looks set to enter No 10 as early as July 17.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said she had spoken to the former mayor and he was “100% behind our unwavering support for Ukraine” while Rachel Reeves endorsed him despite facing the prospect of losing her job as Chancellor.
Health Secretary James Murray also said he was backing the newly elected Makerfield MP, as talks continue over who might serve in a potential Burnham government.
On a visit to Poland, Ms Cooper avoided directly criticising Sir Keir’s record in office but said the May elections in which Labour suffered heavy losses had shown that “people had stopped listening to us.”
“I think it’s exactly because we believe in all of the things that Keir Starmer fought for to get us elected in the first place that I also think that now it’s really important that we can all get behind Andy Burnham as the next prime minister.
“And to make sure that we can make reaching out to people who had lost confidence in us and earn back that support and respect,” she told ITV News.
She revealed she had spoken to the former Greater Manchester mayor about foreign policy issues on Wednesday and said that “what I can say, which is what I always knew, is he’s 100% behind our unwavering support for Ukraine.”
“I know he is a fundamental believer in Nato and in our shared deterrence and in the multilateral partnerships that we have and in things like the support for Ukraine as well. So I know that that will continue.”
Ms Reeves, who is predicted to be replaced if Mr Burnham becomes prime minister, would not be drawn on whether she may accept another role.
“I’m not going to pre-empt the decisions that the new prime minister will make,” she told the BBC.
“I’m backing Andy. I think he’d be a great prime minister, but those are his decisions, not mine to make.”
Mr Burnham is reportedly yet to settle on his choice of chancellor, though speculation has focused on Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.
But some within Labour have cautioned against appointing him, with chief secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones appearing to suggest the former party leader would not meet his “tests” to run the Treasury.
The minister said any new chancellor should not seek to “control” the prime minister, and would have to reassure markets, unions, MPs and the public – declining to say whether he thought Mr Miliband met those criteria.
Meanwhile, Labour’s ruling body confirmed the timetable for electing a new party leader, which will likely see Mr Burnham installed on July 17.
Nominations will open on July 9 and Labour MPs and peers will be able to take part in hustings for prospective candidates on July 13, according to the schedule set out by the National Executive Committee.
If no challenger emerges with the required number of votes – 81 – then a conference will be held on July 17 where Mr Burnham will be announced as winner.
Elsewhere, Sir Keir has indicated he is squarely focused on tackling the cost of living and remaining professional despite turmoil at the top of Government.
The Prime Minister said he hoped to ensure disruption was “absolutely minimised” as he hands over power following his final weeks in Downing Street, as it appears Mr Burnham is likely to succeed him without a Labour leadership contest.
Speaking during a visit to a cinema in Milton Keynes, Sir Keir insisted that most people across the country were not focused on the chaos that has engulfed the top of Government, but on the cost of living.
As he launched plans to cut VAT on family activities for the summer, the Prime Minister said: “On this occasion, we are in a nice cinema in Milton Keynes, but I recognise – the Government recognises – that whatever is going on in the world and there’s a lot, whatever’s going on in politics and there’s a lot, for most families across the country, the single most important thing is the cost of living.”
Despite reports of a “frosty” first meeting between Sir Keir and Mr Burnham on his return to Westminster, the Prime Minister insisted he planned to hand over the keys to No 10 “with good grace”.
He added: “I will do that making sure that there is an orderly transition, and that is what I am going to do.
“I’m going to be professional, I’m going to have foremost in my mind a sense of service and duty that has driven me as Prime Minister.
“I will continue to faithfully serve my country to make sure that any disruption is absolutely minimised, and that’s why I’m taking steps now to ensure that can be done in a sensible way.”
Some Labour MPs have considered whether to endorse another candidate to prevent a coronation that would see Mr Burnham secure the leadership unopposed but few potential challengers have emerged.
Senior minister Darren Jones has ruled out running, and former defence minister Al Carns, also considered a potential challenger, has not formally announced a leadership bid in a series of interviews in recent days.
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