Burnham on track to be next PM as 322 Labour MPs back him

Andy Burnham has taken another step towards becoming the next Labor leader and prime minister after a majority of Labor MPs nominated him to replace Sir Keir Starmer.

Burnham, who remained the only candidate announced after nominations opened on Thursday, had her Labor Party leadership bid supported by 322 Labor MPs.

If no one else enters the contest as expected, Burnham will be announced as Labor leader next week before taking office as prime minister on July 20.

It will mark the former Greater Manchester mayor’s extraordinary rise to power after winning a by-election in Makerfield just weeks ago.

A by-election victory and heavy losses for Labor in May’s local elections left Sir Keir facing calls from his own MPs to step aside and allow Burnham to replace him.

Sir Keir stepped down as Labor leader on the same day Burnham was sworn in as an MP, saying in his resignation speech that he had heard the answer to the question “whether I am in the best position to lead us to the next general election”.

Candidates have until Wednesday next week to gather the necessary support from 81 Labor MPs to enter the leadership race.

Burnham is now just one short of 323 nominations; This is a situation where it is mathematically impossible for an opponent to reach the 81 MP threshold required to compete against them.

He will also have to nominate candidates from at least three of the 31 socialist associations and unions affiliated with the party next week, but this is expected to be a formality for him.

Burnham would then become Labor leader and be dispatched to Downing Street over the summer without the need for a vote among party members and affiliated union supporters.

Several dozen lawmakers posted on social media confirming they had nominated the former mayor.

This includes Burnham herself, who joked that it would be “third time lucky” for her, referring to her two previous failed attempts at the leadership in 2010 and 2015.