Cabinet ministers have rallied behind Andy Burnham as the next prime minister, with the leadership frontrunner expected to enter No 10 as early as July 17. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed she had spoken to the former Greater Manchester mayor and that he was '100% behind our unwavering support for Ukraine.' Rachel Reeves also endorsed him despite facing the prospect of losing her job as Chancellor. Health Secretary James Murray and London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan joined the chorus of support on Thursday.
Cooper backs Burnham after Labour losses
On a visit to Poland, Cooper avoided directly criticising Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's record but said the May elections, in which Labour suffered heavy losses, showed that 'people had stopped listening to us.' She told ITV News: 'I think it's exactly because we believe in all of the things that Keir Starmer fought for to get us elected in the first place that I also think that now it's really important that we can all get behind Andy Burnham as the next prime minister. And to make sure that we… (are) reaching out to people who had lost confidence in us and earn back that support and respect.'
Cooper revealed she had spoken to Burnham about foreign policy on Wednesday and said: 'What I can say, which is what I always knew, is he's 100% behind our unwavering support for Ukraine. I know he is a fundamental believer in Nato and in our shared deterrence and in the multilateral partnerships that we have and in things like the support for Ukraine as well. So I know that that will continue.'
Reeves avoids commenting on her future
Reeves, who is predicted to be replaced if Burnham becomes prime minister, would not be drawn on whether she might accept another role. She told the BBC: 'I'm not going to pre-empt the decisions that the new prime minister will make. I'm backing Andy. I think he'd be a great prime minister, but those are his decisions, not mine to make.' Burnham is reportedly yet to settle on his choice of chancellor, though speculation has focused on Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.
However, some within Labour have cautioned against appointing Miliband. Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones appeared to suggest the former party leader would not meet his 'tests' to run the Treasury. Jones said any new chancellor should not seek to 'control' the prime minister and would have to reassure markets, unions, MPs and the public – declining to say whether he thought Miliband met those criteria.
Khan backs Burnham, downplays north-south friction
Sir Sadiq Khan also said he would support Burnham as the next prime minister and played down the prospect of friction over the Makerfield MP's focus on the north. He told Sky News: 'I fully support Andy Burnham as prime minister, devolving more powers or resources to all of the country, including Scotland and Wales, by the way, Northern Ireland and London. He will understand the importance of London to his desire, his ambition, his desperation to address the cost-of-living crisis, to get good, meaningful growth.'
Leadership election timetable set
Labour's ruling body confirmed the timetable for electing a new party leader, which will likely see Burnham installed on July 17. Potential candidates have from July 9 to July 15 to amass the backing of the 81 MPs required, and until July 16 to gather nominations from affiliated groups such as trade unions. If no challenger emerges with the backing of the 81 MPs required, a conference will be held on July 17 where Burnham will likely be announced as winner.
Starmer focuses on cost of living amid transition
Sir Keir Starmer has said he hopes to ensure disruption is 'absolutely minimised' as he prepares to hand over power following his final weeks in Downing Street. Speaking during a visit to a cinema in Milton Keynes, he indicated he is squarely focused on tackling the cost of living and remaining professional despite turmoil at the top of Government. As he launched plans to cut VAT on family activities for the summer, the Prime Minister said: 'On this occasion, we are in a nice cinema in Milton Keynes, but I recognise – the Government recognises – that whatever is going on in the world and there's a lot, whatever's going on in politics and there's a lot, for most families across the country, the single most important thing is the cost of living.'
Despite reports of a 'frosty' first meeting between Sir Keir and Burnham on his return to Westminster, the Prime Minister insisted he planned to hand over the keys to No 10 'with good grace.' He added: 'I will do that making sure that there is an orderly transition, and that is what I am going to do. I'm going to be professional, I'm going to have foremost in my mind a sense of service and duty that has driven me as Prime Minister. I will continue to faithfully serve my country to make sure that any disruption is absolutely minimised, and that's why I'm taking steps now to ensure that can be done in a sensible way.'
Few challengers emerge; public supports election law change
Some Labour MPs had considered whether to endorse another candidate to prevent a coronation that would see Burnham secure the leadership unopposed, but few potential challengers have emerged. Senior minister Darren Jones has ruled out running, and former defence minister Al Carns, also considered a potential challenger, has not formally announced a leadership bid in a series of interviews in recent days.
Polling suggests that more than half of the public would now support the introduction of a law which would trigger a general election whenever a governing party changes leader during a parliament. Home Office minister Mike Tapp has advocated for the law to be introduced. Some 55% would support the move, an Ipsos poll of 1,000 people carried out between June 22 and 24 found. The same survey also found that more people now believe that the UK is ungovernable than do not, regardless of which political party is in power. Some 50% expressed this sentiment, while 42% disagreed.
