Andy Burnham is guaranteed to become the next prime minister after receiving an additional 27 nominations from Labour MPs on Monday, bringing his total to 349. This makes it impossible for any other candidate to reach the 81 endorsements needed to challenge for the Labour leadership.
Overwhelming Support from Parliamentary Labour Party
Almost 80% of the Parliamentary Labour Party formally nominated Mr Burnham last week, and the extra endorsements on Monday took him over the line. The additional nominations included backing from Communities Secretary Steve Reed, a key ally of Sir Keir Starmer. Mr Reed was the only Cabinet member not to nominate Mr Burnham last week. Shabana Mahmood and Anna Turley, by convention, will not nominate anyone due to their roles chairing Labour’s national executive committee and the party, respectively. Sir Keir, as outgoing leader, also does not participate by convention.
Other Key Nominations
Others who nominated Mr Burnham on Monday included junior ministers Sir Chris Bryant and Mike Tapp, former minister Jess Phillips, and Richard Burgon, secretary of the left-wing Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs. With no other candidates, Mr Burnham is expected to formally take over the Labour leadership at a special party conference on Friday, and he will become prime minister three days later, on July 20.
Hustings and Priorities
Despite being the only candidate, Mr Burnham is expected to participate in an online hustings with Labour MPs later on Monday. Labour sources said he would use the hustings to outline his priorities, including devolving power to communities, improving growth across the UK, and tackling the cost of living. He is expected to pay tribute to Sir Keir for delivering on the Hillsborough Law, which returns to Parliament on Tuesday, and pledge to lead from the front on changing Labour's culture, reiterating his promise to appoint cabinet ministers from across the party.
Mr Burnham is also expected to begin the hustings with a tribute to former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, who died last week. Ahead of the hustings, Mr Burnham tweeted that she had been the victim of an “appalling act of violence” and said the police “must be given the resources and space they need so justice can be done as quickly as possible”.
