Andy Burnham to Be Confirmed Labour Leader Friday and Become Prime Minister Monday

Andy Burnham will be confirmed as the new Labour leader at a special party conference in central London on Friday before taking over as prime minister from Sir Keir Starmer on Monday. The Makerfield MP won a by-election in the constituency last month and was backed by 379 Labour MPs and most trade unions linked to the party earlier this week.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, chair of Labour's ruling national executive committee, will announce Burnham as the new leader at the conference.

He will also commit to making the economy work for people across the UK through "a new path to the one we've been on for the last 40 years" and to driving growth in every postcode while returning power to communities. Burnham, formerly Greater Manchester mayor, will pay tribute to Starmer for winning the general election in 2024 and for NHS improvements and investment in public services.

Starmer resigned as Labour leader last month after heavy Labour losses in May's local elections.

Potential leadership contenders Wes Streeting, the former health secretary, and Al Carns, a former defence minister, said they would not challenge Burnham. Starmer, speaking to Sky News during a visit to Ukraine on Thursday, said he wanted an "orderly transition" and that he had built "a sound foundation" for his successor. Announcements on cabinet posts are not expected until Monday.

Burnham offered some details about his policy plans in a speech in Manchester earlier this month, including a proposed No 10 unit in Manchester to give local government more control over housing and transport.