What is Burnham's path to becoming Labour leader and PM?
BBC News 2026-06-19 08:38:42
Context: Andy Burnham, the newly elected MP for Makerfield, is expected to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership after winning the by-election on June 18. Sir Keir has stated that he plans to fight any challenge and will continue as prime minister if he wins. However, if he loses, the winner will replace him in Downing Street without the need for a general election.
Key Facts
- Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election on June 18, increasing the share of the vote Labour won in the seat in 2024 and holding off a challenge from Reform UK by more than 9,000 votes.
- Sir Keir Starmer has stated that he intends to fight any leadership challenge, but over 90 Labour MPs have publicly urged him to resign immediately or draw up an exit timetable.
- To trigger a Labour leadership election, 20% of the party's MPs (81 out of 403) must back a replacement candidate, and once triggered, other candidates can join the contest if they have 81 backers.
- The Labour leadership election process involves party members and affiliated trade union supporters voting by ranking candidates in order of preference, with the winner requiring more than 50% of first preferences or a majority of votes after successive eliminations.
- Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, newly elected MP Andy Burnham, and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner are considered the main potential challengers to Sir Keir, with Burnham arguing that Labour "needs to change if we are to regain people's trust".