Labour contest takes Burnham closer to UK PM's office

Andy Burnham is poised for a swift coronation as the next leader of Britain's Labour party, standing as the only declared candidate as nominations officially open.

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But months of internal Labour politics isn't what the country needs right now. We've got to get on with the job.

The 56-year-old Greater Manchester mayor, nicknamed the "King of the North," must secure the backing of 81 out of Labour's 402 Members of Parliament to be formally considered. This support is widely expected to be easily surpassed.

Attention now focuses on whether any alternative candidate can gather the necessary support to challenge Burnham. If no contest materializes, he will be declared leader at a special conference on July 17, positioning him as the "prime minister in waiting." He would then succeed Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street three days later.

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bring about the biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen

Burnham's path appeared even more assured after former armed forces minister Alun Cairns withdrew his potential candidacy, stating that "months of internal Labour politics isn't what the country needs right now." Cairns pledged his support to Burnham, emphasizing the need to "get on with the job."

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We need a new determination to raise living standards of every single person in this land.

Burnham has previously vowed to "bring about the biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen," promising to place power "in the hands of the people and places who can use it best." He also stressed the need for "a new determination to raise living standards" and a fundamental "change politics and we need to do it now."

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And we must accept that to do that, to fix the economy and the country, we need to change politics and we need to do it now.