Labour MPs have begun making their nominations for Sir Keir Starmer’s successor as the party leader and next prime minister.
Andy Burnham appears on course for a coronation, as he was the only declared candidate when nominations began on Thursday.
Al Carns, thought to be the final remaining potential challenger to the former Greater Manchester mayor, ruled himself out of the running on Wednesday.
Mr Burnham said in a social media video he has nominated himself to be the next Labour leader.
He said: “The nomination process has opened this morning, so, glad to see some MPs going in.
“I am still the only candidate in the race. We will get the first indication about 7pm tonight of the first number of MPs to sign up. But the thing will go on over the next few days, so it won’t be the final word.
“But yeah, it is all starting to feel very real.”
A steady trickle of Labour MPs could be seen making their way to the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) offices on Thursday morning to make their nominations.
One MP leaving the PLP offices in Westminster told the Press Association there is “no one else” who appears a likely challenger.
Several joked about the possibility of voting for Count Binface as the next Labour leader.
The satirical candidate is standing against Nigel Farage in the Clacton by-election triggered by the Reform UK leader.
Barry Gardiner, the Brent West MP, and Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough and Thornaby East) were among the first to make their nominations on Thursday morning, according to those leaving the PLP offices.
Former armed forces minister Mr Carns on Wednesday said: “I’d hoped a leadership contest would give us the opportunity for a proper debate.
“But months of internal Labour politics isn’t what the country needs right now.
“We’ve got to get on with the job.
“Andy Burnham’s earned this and he’s got my full backing.”
Prospective candidates need the backing of 81 MPs to put themselves forward to replace Sir Keir Starmer, who resigned last month under increasing pressure from his party.
If Mr Burnham reaches the “magic number” of more than 322 nominations, then it will no longer be possible for another challenger to get the backing of 81 MPs.
In the absence of any other candidates, Mr Burnham will be formally declared Labour leader at a special conference on July 17 and is expected to then become prime minister on July 20.
The Makerfield MP will still take part in an online hustings with Labour MPs on Monday evening, even if he is the only one in the running.
Writing in The Times on the eve of nominations opening, Mr Burnham said he would seek stability in his foreign policy as prime minister as he set out his commitment to Nato, the nuclear deterrent, maintaining close ties with the US and support for Ukraine as well as continuing to bolster relations with the EU.
Sir Keir’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell will be kept on in the role, he said.
The boost to defence spending set out in Sir Keir’s defence investment plan should be used to back British businesses and economic growth with a focus on inward investment, he said.
He also said he was committed to “levelling with” the public over spending decisions.
He added: “I want to be more open with the public about how and where defence funding is spent.
“For our biggest defence and infrastructure projects, I want to see more detailed, public progress updates, with more transparency and accountability to tackle cost overruns or delays before they spiral out of control.
“Our increased investment must be combined with an increase in scrutiny.”
Former transport secretary Louise Haigh, a key Burnham ally, said he has “very clear ideas and a plan”.
Amid speculation about who he would choose for his Cabinet, she said he had not had to do “horse trades and deals with all kinds of people” to get to where he is.
She told BBC Radio 4’s Political Thinking programme: “Therefore he can set out the agenda, including the machinery of government changes, which he started to announce this week with Number 10 North, and then build out the people from that.
“And that’s the right way to do it.”
Read MoreKey Burnham ally claims Starmer’s government was sexist
Rupert Lowe sparks outrage with lie on sprawling Joe Rogan podcast interview
Downing Street defends Starmer picking new Labour peers
Green leader Zack Polanski eyes more success at Greater Manchester mayoral poll
DUP reveals details of review into what was known about Donaldson’s conduct
