Andy Burnham could be leader in weeks under Labour timetable
Burnham confirmed her intention to step down shortly after Sir Keir stepped down as prime minister on Monday.
There were suggestions that Senior Minister Darren Jones or former Armed Forces minister Al Carns might seek to run, but Jones rejected the offer and Carns has yet to confirm whether he will bid.
Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting had previously said he would throw his hat in the ring but backed Burnham on Monday.
Burnham also received support from cabinet ministers including the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, Education Minister Bridget Phillipson and Health Minister James Murray. It also looks ready to surpass the 81MP threshold with ease.
It is increasingly likely that he will field more candidates than any other Labor MP.
Sir Keir said he wanted an “orderly” transition of power and authorized civil servants to meet with potential Labor leadership candidates to help them prepare for government.
Despite announcing his resignation, Sir Keir will remain prime minister until a new Labor leader is elected.
Its official spokesman had previously denied that the administration was now a “zombie government”.
“The Prime Minister and all ministers will remain in office and the normal business of the government will continue,” the spokesman said.
“This includes international leadership on security and growth, as well as domestic priorities such as public services, economic stability and reforms, and you saw evidence of this with the Prime Minister in Berlin yesterday, and his focus remains very much on serving the country and running the business.”
Downing Street also said it would not make “major policy” or spending decisions during the transition to the next prime minister.
But it plans to publish its long-awaited Defense Investment Plan (DIP), which sets out spending on military equipment, before the NATO conference on July 7.
Sir Keir plans to attend the defense alliance’s conference in Türkiye in what is likely to be one of his last official duties as British prime minister.
