Sir Keir Starmer will face his last Cabinet meeting and Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, while Andy Burnham edges closer to becoming Labour leader as nominations close. The outgoing leader will hold farewell talks with senior ministers in Downing Street before his final Commons grilling at the despatch box at noon.
Burnham Secures Leadership
Makerfield MP and prime minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham has cemented his path to No 10 after receiving backing from 369 of Labour's 403 MPs, making it mathematically impossible for a rival to enter the contest. Under Labour rules, candidates need 81 MP nominations to stand, ensuring a coronation for Burnham.
The former Greater Manchester mayor is set to enter Downing Street on Monday, succeeding Starmer who leaves office after two years.
Starmer's Farewell and Legacy
Speaking at a reception for campaigners, Starmer said: "I leave on Monday. I leave with good grace, I leave very pleased with what we’ve been able to achieve in government in the two years that I’ve had the privilege of being prime minister. I’m pleased to have delivered on the promises that I made to many people in this garden, and I’ll make this last promise, which is I will stand with you and walk with you for as long as I’ve got breath in my body."
Starmer highlighted his support for Ukraine and domestic campaigns like the Hillsborough Law as key parts of his legacy. He also attended Bastille Day celebrations in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, who awarded him the Legion d'honneur for his work on European security.
Burnham's Cost of Living Focus
Speaking outside the Commons on Tuesday, Burnham said the cost of living is "the issue of our times." He emphasised: "If we want to connect politics better with people, well, let’s deal with some of the pressures people are under in terms of the everyday cost of transport, the bills that they’re paying. I heard it so often on doorsteps in the campaign. Life has changed for people, and it’s not necessarily got better. And I think we just need to be relentlessly focused on that."
Burnham outlined his plan for more public control of basics to cut costs, citing his experience with buses in Greater Manchester. "To me, the cost of living and reducing it is everything, and I think we need to regain the confidence in the public that we’ve got a credible plan to do that and make life better," he added.
Nomination Details
Burnham nearly achieved a clean sweep of declared nominations, except for backbencher Neil Coyle who nominated ex-minister Catherine West. Coyle said he always nominates a woman and chose a fellow London MP who had previously expressed interest in a contest against Starmer in May.
