Sir Keir Starmer was set to face Kemi Badenoch at his last Prime Minister’s Questions after being forced out of office. Beforehand, he was due to hold his final Cabinet talks attended by senior ministers involved in the coup against him. They were reported to be planning to give him a carriage clock as a gift, having piled pressure on him to set out a departure timetable from Downing Street.
Starmer's Resignation and Labour Revolt
Sir Keir has served just over two years as Prime Minister after winning a landslide victory at the July 2024 general election. But he was forced to resign by a huge Labour revolt after his party’s popularity plummeted in the polls. As Sir Keir was starting saying his farewells, Andy Burnham was preparing to take over in Downing Street.
Andy Burnham's Ascension
The former Mayor of Greater Manchester is due to become Prime Minister on Monday, amid hopes that England could get to the World Cup final on the Sunday before. Mr Burnham has decided not to appoint Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband as his Chancellor, according to The Times, though this has not been confirmed. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is being talked about as the most likely person to take over at the helm of the Treasury.
Key Appointments and Policy Blueprint
London MPs Wes Streeting and Miatta Fahnbulleh are expected to be given key roles in Mr Burnham’s top team. Mr Burnham has already unveiled his blueprint for Britain involving the “biggest devolution of power in modern times”. However, his economic plans are far from clear. He has previously backed a new property tax, which would replace council tax and stamp duty, which could land London with an extra £7.5 billion bill.
Economic Plans and Tax Reforms
The former Cabinet minister has also vowed to ease the cost of living for millions of people across the UK, with expectations of tax cuts for the low paid, or a boost to benefits. Mr Burnham may be tempted to pay for this by raising taxes on the wealthy, possibly by eventually bringing back the 50p top rate of income tax. His reforms could also see tens of thousands more government jobs moved from Whitehall as regional mayors are given far more powers.
London Mayor's Concerns
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan could also get more control over housing and education. But he has warned Mr Burnham not to cut investment in the capital as he channels billions more in public spending to the regions.
Labour Leadership Contest
Nominations by MPs for the Labour leadership formally close on Wednesday. Mr Burnham’s premiership has already been cemented after he received the backing of 369 of the party’s 403 MPs, making it mathematically impossible for a rival to enter the contest. Under Labour rules, candidates need the backing of 81 MPs to stand in a contest, meaning he is set for a coronation. Mr Burnham nearly enjoyed a clean sweep of declared nominations, had it not been for backbencher Neil Coyle selecting ex-minister Catherine West, who pulled back from mounting an unlikely leadership challenge against Sir Keir in May. Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP Mr Coyle said he had done so because he always nominates a woman and chose a fellow London MP who had previously said she wanted a contest.
