Key facts
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer is granting Andy Burnham, a potential successor, access to the civil service.
- This access is intended to prepare candidates for government and is a convention for potential leaders.
- Nominations for the Labour leadership contest are set to open on July 9 and will last for one week.
- Burnham is currently the sole declared candidate, but others may emerge.
- Starmer has agreed to suspend major policy and spending decisions until a new Prime Minister is in place.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facilitating access to the civil service for prospective Labour leadership candidates, including Andy Burnham, to ensure an orderly transition. This convention allows potential leaders to engage with senior civil servants and prepare for governance before formal nominations open on July 9. Burnham, the current sole declared candidate, has committed to existing fiscal rules and manifesto pledges, though he has indicated priorities such as public control over utilities and increased council housing. The move comes as Starmer prepares to step down after less than two years, aiming to support his successor by suspending major policy and spending decisions. Potential challengers, such as Darren Jones and Al Carns, are being considered by some Labour MPs, with Jones seeking assurances on economic policy and Carns not ruling out a bid.