Burnham cements Labour leadership with backing of 349 MPs
BBC News 2026-07-13 18:26:27
Context: Andy Burnham has effectively secured the Labour leadership with 349 MPs nominating him to replace Sir Keir Starmer, making it mathematically impossible for a rival to run against him. Burnham, the MP for Makerfield, will become the UK's prime minister on July 20. He still needs the backing of three organizations affiliated with the Labour Party, which is expected to be a formality.
Key Facts
- Andy Burnham received the support of 27 additional Labour MPs on the second day of nominations, bringing his total to 349 MPs backing his leadership bid.
- Under Labour's rules, leadership candidates need 20% of the party's MPs - 81 out of a total of 403 - to nominate them, which Burnham has now exceeded.
- Burnham has previously run for the Labour leadership in 2010 and 2015, losing to Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn respectively, but this time he has run unopposed.
- Burnham's own by-election victory and heavy Labour losses in May's local elections led to Sir Keir facing calls from his own MPs for him to stand aside and allow Burnham to replace him.
- Burnham will field questions from Labour MPs as the only participant in an online hustings on Monday evening, and is expected to be confirmed as the next prime minister on July 20.