Andy Burnham could still face hurdles in his path to No 10 with two potential rivals for the Labour leadership considering their next moves. The new Makerfield MP, who only returned to the Commons on Monday, could be in Downing Street within weeks if a challenger does not emerge.
Potential Challengers Emerge
Cabinet minister Darren Jones and former armed forces minister Al Carns are being considered as potential candidates by Labour MPs wary about installing Mr Burnham in No 10 without a contest. Mr Jones, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and a key ally of Sir Keir Starmer, is one potential candidate with support from those loyal to the outgoing Labour leader.
Sources close to Mr Jones said he was not currently minded to run in a contest but that he would want assurances on Mr Burnham's approach to economic policy, amid concerns among some of potential unease in the markets. Mr Burnham is set to make a major speech next week to set out key aspects of his economic policy, including confirmation he will stick to the current Chancellor Rachel Reeves' rules for managing the public finances.
Al Carns Weighs Options
The second potential rival to Mr Burnham is former Royal Marines officer Mr Carns, who is making up his mind whether to launch a leadership campaign. He suggested on ITV's Peston he was considering what to do before nominations for the Labour leadership open on July 9. “I’m not ready to make a decision on this in any way shape or form,” he said. “What I would say is we need to move from the politics which talk through the tactics and actually think about the strategy and what I’m really looking for are big objective outcomes that we want to get to in 2029 and 2034-35”. He added that “we need to have a clear and concise discussion about what this country wants to be at the next general election and the general election after that”.
Support for Swift Transition
Burnham backer Nick Thomas-Symonds suggested a contest would not be in the best interests of the country. The Cabinet Office minister told Sky News: “I just think we have to weigh up what is in the best interests of the country. I am of the view that it needs to be a swift transition but of course I understand colleagues have difficult decisions to make.”
Mr Burnham will begin to set out his policy platform, pledging economic growth and a commitment to Labour's existing fiscal rules in a speech next week. Talks are also said to be taking place about who will sit in his Cabinet, with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood both tipped as potential candidates to replace Ms Reeves as chancellor. But Mr Burnham's allies said no jobs had been given and no deals had been made as of Monday evening.
Economic Reassurances Needed
Ms Reeves' successor would be bound by the rules she set, which aim to restrict borrowing and pay for day-to-day spending out of tax revenues by the end of the decade. Mr Burnham knows he has to reassure the City of London about his economic plans, having previously caused alarm by saying “we’ve got to get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets”. If Mr Burnham is the only candidate to receive the support needed to stand in the contest for the vacant Labour leadership, he could become prime minister as early as July 17.
Starmer's Departure
Sir Keir announced he would be standing down in an emotional statement outside No 10 on Monday, promising an “orderly handover of power” to his successor. Defending his record, he pledged to give the next leader “my full and unequivocal support, knowing that they will inherit a Britain that is far stronger and fairer than the one I inherited two years ago”. Sir Keir said he would ask Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) to set out a timetable that would see a new leader in place by the time Parliament returns from its summer recess on September 1 if there is a contest. But Mr Burnham could be the only candidate when nominations close on July 16. Potential candidates have until then to amass the support of at least 81 Labour MPs.
Gratitude and Transition
On Monday evening, Sir Keir and his wife Lady Victoria Starmer hosted No 10 staff for drinks in the No 10 garden, where they thanked those present for the support they had given. Lady Starmer told them: “I just wanted to say thank you from me. I obviously love Keir and support him as much as I can, but there’s only so much I could do, and it’s you guys who gave that support day in, day out, and I am personally really grateful for that. So, thank you all.”
Mr Burnham praised Sir Keir's “huge service to our country” but said his resignation “marks the beginning of a transition”. He said: “The Labour movement has always been at its strongest when it looks forward with confidence and purpose. This is what we will do from here and we will make sure this transition is a positive process of renewal for our party and our country.”
Opposition View
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch insisted she was not concerned about the prospect of facing former Greater Manchester mayor Mr Burnham. She told the BBC “it’s very easy to have favourability ratings when you haven’t done anything yet”, with his record based on “one city, it’s not the whole country”. “Manchester is not the United Kingdom,” she said. “All he did as Manchester (mayor) was spend money, which the Government had given him. That’s very different from being Prime Minister, where you’ve got to find the money.”
