Burnham locks out all rivals to seize Labour crown | Politics | News

New supporters flocking in today are said to include Steve Reed, a close ally of the outgoing Prime Minister as Sir Keir’s inner circle threw in the towel.

His support shows that even those closest to Sir Keir accept that the leadership race is now a foregone conclusion.

He is then set to take the 10th job as Prime Minister on July 20, taking over a Government reeling from weeks of Labor civil war sparked by Sir Keir’s shock resignation.

With time running out, no challenger can now muster the 81 candidates needed to mount a fierce challenge, leaving Mr. Burnham unchallenged for the crown.

It marks a stunning rise for the former Mayor of Manchester, who returned to Parliament only last month after storming to victory in the Makerfield by-election.

The win sparked Sir Keir’s premiership and senior Labor figures have rushed to line up behind the man dubbed “The King in the North” in the frenetic weeks since.

Wes Streeting, once portrayed as Mr Burnham’s fiercest rival, has given up his own leadership dreams to back him, while Cabinet Minister Darren Jones has also withdrawn from the race.

Mr Burnham’s allies say he will take swift action in Downing Street and immediately press ahead with plans to cut Whitehall’s electricity and distribute it to the regions.

Although he is only days away from leading the country, Mr Burnham is yet to face public controversy over his policies.

He also did not take questions in Parliament and is unlikely to do so as Parliament went into recess on the day he became Prime Minister.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch asked the Speaker to allow MPs to sit for a few more days to question the new Prime Minister.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who was elected as a Labor MP before becoming Speaker of Parliament, has not yet fulfilled this demand.