Burnham could be PM within weeks as Starmer quits after losing support of MPs
Andy Burnham has been sworn in as the Labour MP for Makerfield following last week’s by-election.
The Prime Minister acknowledged he had lost the support of his MPs and promised an “orderly handover of power” to his successor in an emotional statement.
The announcement came just hours before Mr Burnham arrived in Westminster following last week’s success in the Makerfield by-election and a coronation for the former Greater Manchester mayor looks increasingly likely after his main rival Wes Streeting backed him.
If Mr Burnham is the only candidate to received the support needed to stand in the contest for the vacant Labour leadership, he could become prime minister in mid-July.
Mr Burnham said Sir Keir’s resignation “marks the beginning of a transition”.
He said: “The Labour movement has always been at its strongest when it looks forward with confidence and purpose.
“This is what we will do from here and we will make sure this transition is a positive process of renewal for our party and our country.”
In chaotic scenes at London’s Euston station, Mr Burnham played down the prospect of calling a snap general election if he becomes prime minister.
“You’re jumping several hurdles ahead there,” he told reporters waiting for his late-running train from Manchester.
The Avanti West Coast Service from Manchester Piccadilly to Euston which Mr Burnham travelled on to London arrived 20 minutes late.
Mr Burnham’s chances of becoming the next prime minister were boosted by former health secretary Mr Streeting’s backing.
Mr Streeting quit the Cabinet in protest at Sir Keir’s leadership and had indicated he would be prepared to fire the starting gun on a contest to oust him if he did not voluntarily quit.
He said he had spoken with Mr Burnham “at length” and concluded he could “win the fight of our lives against the forces of nationalism”.
He added: “We could spend the summer exaggerating small differences, or we can roll up our sleeves and help him to deliver the change our party and our country needs.”
Sir Keir’s statement followed a weekend spent mulling his future with his family at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country residence.
While his decision remained unclear early on Monday, ministerial allies and Number 10 staff gathered in Downing Street shortly before 9.30am in an indication Sir Keir was preparing to announce his resignation.
In a statement that competed with a protester playing the EU anthem Ode To Joy, Sir Keir said his party had asked “whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election”.
He said: “I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace.”
Defending his record, he pledged to give his successor “my full and unequivocal support, knowing that they will inherit a Britain that is far stronger and fairer than the one I inherited two years ago”.
With a wavering voice, he added: “When I leave the biggest job in the country, I shall spend more time on the most important job, being the best husband I can to my fantastic wife, Vic, who has been a rock by my side through good times and bad, and being the best dad I can to my beautiful children, who are my pride and joy.”
Sir Keir said he would ask Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) to set out a timetable that would see a new leader in place by the time Parliament returns from its summer recess on September 1.
But the anointing of a new leader could come much sooner, with nominations closing on July 16.
Potential candidates have until then to amass the support of at least 81 Labour MPs.
If Mr Burnham is the only candidate to meet that threshold he will become leader without a vote of the membership and is likely to become prime minister on either July 17 or 18.
Sir Keir’s decision to quit means the UK will now have its seventh prime minister in a decade.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for a general election in the wake of Sir Keir’s resignation, tweeting: “If Labour thinks it can shove another professional politician into No 10, it has another thing coming.”
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said there should be an election “if Andy Burnham is not able to set out how he’s going to keep our country safe” amid an ongoing row within government over defence funding.
Other opposition figures stopped short of demanding an election, but urged Sir Keir’s successor to be bold.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “Whoever becomes prime minister needs to drop the caution and complacency and show the ambition our country deserves.”
Green leader Zack Polanski said the country needed “a bold change of direction”, adding: “The time for half measures and sticking plasters is long gone – if he becomes the next PM, Burnham must be bold or he will be bust.”
Published: by Radio NewsHub