Andy Burnham, the leading contender to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader and likely Britain’s next prime minister, was formally sworn in on Monday night as a member of the UK Parliament. The oath was a necessary procedural step before he could seek Downing Street, and when asked by a BBC reporter whether he would call an early general election if he won Labour’s leadership, Burnham replied, "You are jumping several steps ahead." He has not said he will trigger elections, despite opposition demands that he do so.
Burnham, who had left Parliament years ago and had most recently served as mayor of Greater Manchester, won a special election last week to fill a vacant Commons seat. He was cheered by Labour MPs during the swearing-in ceremony and took the oath alongside two other new lawmakers. Former health secretary Wes Streeting has already withdrawn from the race and endorsed Burnham, and BBC analyst Henry Zeffman said the leadership contest appeared effectively over before it began. So far, no other candidate has declared against him.
The internal Labour process means only party members will choose the next leader, which has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, again called for immediate general elections, saying, "Whoever becomes prime minister, it will not be a person chosen by the British public." Opposition MPs mocked the Labour hopes for Burnham with chants including "Rome was saved" and "He is not the messiah."
Starmer announced his resignation at midday Monday, saying he would remain prime minister until the succession process is complete and would work to ensure an orderly transfer of power. He said he had informed King Charles that morning and asked Labour to open nominations on 9 July, aiming to finish the process before the summer recess so the new leader could take over before Parliament returns in September. Labour rules require a candidate to win backing from one-fifth of the parliamentary party, 81 MPs, and Burnham is said to already have support from at least 200 of Labour’s 403 MPs. Starmer’s exit follows growing anger over his record on the economy, the cost of living, public services, illegal migration, policy U-turns, and the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States despite concerns over his links to Jeffrey Epstein. He is now the sixth British prime minister to leave Downing Street in the past 10 years, amid continued political instability since Brexit.
