Andy Burnham's bid to become Prime Minister cleared another hurdle on Wednesday, as another potential rival ruled himself out of the race. The newly-elected MP for Makerfield looks on course to succeed Sir Keir Starmer in Number 10.
Senior Labour minister Darren Jones has confirmed he will not stand in a Labour Party leadership contest against Mr Burnham, saying he had had a “reassuring” conversation about the former Greater Manchester mayor’s economic policies. With ex-health secretary Wes Streeting also out of the running, it appears likely at this stage that Mr Burnham could run unopposed and be installed in Downing Street within weeks – though former armed forces minister Al Carns remains a potential opponent.
If Mr Burnham is the only candidate to receive the support of at least 81 Labour MPs by the time nominations for the leadership nominations close on July 16, he will be declared the winner and could become Prime Minister as early as the following day. In an interview with Sky News, Mr Jones said there were “upwards of 100 MPs” who were concerned about Mr Burnham’s plans or were “feeling pretty depressed” by Sir Keir’s resignation.
North East MPs' Positions
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has asked all 20 Labour MPs across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham whether they are backing Mr Burnham to take over the top job, support another candidate, or remain undecided. Here is what we know about their stances so far:
Supporting Andy Burnham
- Dame Chi Onwurah, Newcastle Central and West: Dame Chi said on Monday that Sir Keir’s departure was “the right decision and now it is time to move forward in the interest of the British people to deliver the leadership the country needs”. She previously supported Mr Burnham when he ran unsuccessfully for the Labour leadership in 2015 and is doing so again now. She told the LDRS: “If Andy can bring to the country the level of economic growth, housing, and transport transformation that he has in Manchester then I know my constituents will feel better off.”
- Joe Morris, Hexham: Mr Morris backed Mr Burnham earlier this week. He said the former metro mayor “must be allowed to unite the party and deliver on Labour's promise to people across the UK”.
- Kate Osborne, Jarrow and Gateshead East: Ms Osborne said after the Makerfield result that she wanted to see Mr Burnham become the next leader of her party. She commented: “Hope springs eternal and Andy's election is an opportunity to drive change both in the Labour Party and in the country. The conversations I had in Makerfield were familiar, a Northern town left behind and desperate for investment and change.”
- Emma Lewell, South Shields: Ms Lewell confirmed she will support Andy Burnham, but would be disappointed if he goes unchallenged. She told the LDRS: “I know the Prime Minister had to go, but I think the way it has happened could have happened better. I think we should have had a bit of a contest, but it looks like we are hurtling towards one person being on the ballot paper. “I was backing Andy anyway, but I don’t think it is very good for democracy or politics to have one person automatically take over. It is not healthy to just put someone in a position – the MPs and, more importantly, the country need to know what the policy platform is. I don’t want a long, drawn-out contest, but we need to know what his policy platform is going to be.”
- Grahame Morris, Easington: Mr Morris confirmed he is backing Mr Burnham. He told the LDRS: "Andy has extensive parliamentary and ministerial experience. As Mayor of Manchester, he successfully harnessed devolution to transform the city-region, driving economic growth and delivering high-quality public services that people can rely on. “I believe Andy can bring his pragmatic, problem-solving approach to Westminster to tackle the deep challenges our country and communities face, including the cost of living, regaining control over vital public services, and overhauling a regressive Council Tax system that penalises our poorest communities. I believe Andy is best placed to deliver the leadership and change our country urgently needs."
Undecided or Not Endorsing
- Mary Glindon, Newcastle East and Wallsend: Mrs Glindon confirmed on Monday that she would not endorse any new Labour leadership candidate. She also urged that a general election be called, accusing her party of having “let the public down and upset the democratic process” by changing Prime Minister less than two years after Labour won a substantial majority in 2024.
- David Smith, North Northumberland: Mr Smith, who was among the new Labour MPs elected in 2024, welcomed Sir Keir’s departure but has not endorsed a replacement. In a statement on Monday, he called for a “proper leadership contest that focuses on ideas and vision, and is not just about personalities”. He added: “My constituents in North Northumberland need a Labour Government with the vision and clarity to help renew their communities, and I will support anyone who can provide this.”
- Luke Akehurst, North Durham: Mr Akehurst’s office confirmed that he was not allowed to express a preference for a leadership candidate because he serves on Labour’s National Executive Committee, which sets out the timetable and process for the contest. He told Radio 4’s World at One programme this week that there was “such a head of steam” behind Mr Burnham that he did not expect “much of a contest”.
No Response or Unable to Comment
The following MPs have not responded to the LDRS’ request or were unable to comment due to their roles: Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle North), Ian Lavery (Blyth and Ashington), Liz Twist (Blaydon and Consett), Sir Alan Campbell (Tynemouth), Lewis Atkinson (Sunderland Central), Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South), Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Gateshead South), Mary Kelly Foy (City of Durham), Sam Rushworth (Bishop Auckland), and Alan Strickland (Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor). Some have made general statements about the leadership transition without endorsing a candidate.
Impact and Next Steps
With the nomination deadline set for July 16, the coming days will determine whether Mr Burnham faces any challenger. If he runs unopposed, he could become Prime Minister as early as July 17. The support from North East MPs, including key figures like Dame Chi Onwurah and Grahame Morris, underscores the regional backing for his candidacy, though some MPs have expressed a desire for a broader contest to clarify policy platforms.
