Key facts
- Andy Burnham is poised to become the next leader of the Labour Party.
- Nominations for the leadership contest have opened.
- No other candidates have emerged to challenge Burnham.
- Burnham aims to become prime minister on July 20.
- He has proposed establishing a new Downing Street unit in Manchester.
- Burnham intends to increase defence investment.
Andy Burnham is positioned to become the next leader of the Labour Party, as nominations for the contest have opened and no other candidates have emerged. Labour MPs can now formally endorse contenders, with an initial total expected to be published on Thursday. Without any rivals, Burnham could be declared leader at a party event next week and potentially become prime minister on July 20.
Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor, has submitted his nomination, referencing his previous unsuccessful bids for leadership in 2010 and 2015. He stated that "it's all starting to feel very real." Al Carns, a former defence minister who had considered running, has withdrawn, clearing the path for Burnham to potentially run unopposed. Several potential rivals, including Wes Streeting, have already declared their support for Burnham.
Labour's rules require candidates to secure nominations from 81 Labour MPs, along with either 32 local branches or three affiliated socialist societies and trade unions. Candidates have until next Wednesday to gather these nominations. However, if Burnham secures 323 nominations, it would mathematically prevent any rival from reaching the 81-MP threshold.
Burnham has begun outlining his policy proposals, including establishing a new Downing Street unit in Manchester to grant local government more control over housing and transport. He also advocates for greater public control over water and energy sectors, though specifics remain to be detailed. He expressed a desire to retain Sir Keir Starmer's national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, and called for a "sustained increase" in defence investment, while committing to greater transparency regarding military procurement costs and delays. Sir Keir Starmer recently announced plans to increase military spending by £15 billion over four years by reallocating funds from other government areas.