Burnham to Become Prime Minister After Securing Labour MPs' Backing

Andy Burnham will become Labour leader on Friday after securing support from the party's MPs, with the change set to make him prime minister on Monday. The transition process begins on Monday when Sir Keir Starmer meets King Charles to offer his resignation as prime minister.

The King will then meet Burnham and ask him to form a government. Once Burnham accepts, he becomes prime minister. Both meetings are expected to take place at Buckingham Palace. Burnham will then go to Downing Street, where he is likely to give a speech outside No 10.

Leadership Change Burnham won a by-election a month ago, defeating the Reform candidate in the constituency. His return to Parliament as a sitting MP allowed him to stand for the leadership. Wes Streeting, the former health secretary, abandoned his own leadership ambitions and backed Burnham, as did the majority of Labour MPs. The process means Burnham becomes leader without a contest.

Burnham has said he will broadly maintain the policies Labour campaigned on in 2024, including commitments not to raise the main rates of income tax, VAT or National Insurance. He has identified giving more power to local councils and authorities as a priority, with greater local control over housing and transport.

He has proposed establishing a No 10 team based in Manchester, more than 150 miles north of London. He has also discussed plans relating to welfare, social care, immigration and defence, and indicated a wealth tax could be considered, though specific policies in many areas remain unannounced.

He will need to appoint a cabinet including a chancellor, home secretary and foreign secretary, with discussions underway but no appointments confirmed.