Overview
- Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday and is serving as caretaker prime minister while Labour opens a rapid leadership contest.
- Andy Burnham secured a Commons seat last week and has quickly gathered broad backing inside the party, making him the clear frontrunner to replace Starmer.
- The formal contest requires candidates to file by July 9 and needs at least 81 MP supporters to stand; Burnham reportedly already has more than 200 backers so he could be unopposed.
- Wes Streeting, an early potential rival and former health minister, announced he will back Burnham rather than run which consolidates support and speeds the succession process.
- Burnham plans to build a team and set out a pragmatic 'Manchesterism' platform focused on state role in services, decentralization and industrial policy while the new leader will face choices about sticking to the election manifesto or seeking a fresh mandate.