Vacant homes are rare in London. Except in Downing Street. Since 2016, six Prime Ministers have slammed the famous door of number 10 after only a few months in office. The last tenant, Keir Starmer, lasted a little less than two years. Weakened by the heavy setback for the left in the local elections at the beginning of May against the anti-immigration Reform UK party and the defections within its camp, the Labor leader faced the facts: “My party is wondering if I am best placed to lead it to the next general election. I heard his response. I accept it. » His resignation now opens the race for his succession at the head of Labor and the country.
Building on its overwhelming victory in the 2024 legislative elections after fourteen years of conservative domination, the Labor Party is guaranteed to retain power until the general election of 2029. In the United Kingdom, the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons is called by the sovereign to form a government. For now, Andy Burnham is the big favorite to take over the reins. The former councilor of Greater Manchester is the only one to have officially announced his candidacy.
If Donald Trump does not see him capable of occupying any function other than that of “simple mayor”has been aiming for the upper echelon for a long time. THE “King of the North”a nickname he inherited during the Covid-19 pandemic by opposing the restrictions imposed by the conservative government of Boris Johnson, is seeking the leadership of Labor for the third time. Beaten in 2010 by Ed Miliband, then in 2015 by Jeremy Corbyn, Andy Burnham should win this time. The 56-year-old, who looks like a younger version of Keir Starmer – same square-framed glasses, same top-of-the-class look – enjoys real popularity with the British who consider him the Labor figure best placed to occupy the post according to polls. Just elected in the Makerfield constituency, the new MP was welcomed as a star by his group in the Westminster Parliament.
Andy Burnham appears to be the big favorite according to the polls
To the point of discouraging its internal competitors. The former Minister of Health, Wes Streeting, once considered a candidate, finally changed his mind: “We can roll up our sleeves and help enact the change our party and our country need.” This is the choice I’m making, and I hope everyone supports Andy. » Former Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, Al Carns, and Darren Jones, a Keir Starmer loyalist, are still casting doubt while waiting to learn the favorite’s economic measures.
Taking a more left-wing line than his predecessor, Burnham will soon detail them during a major speech. His potential rivals will thus be able to decide whether they join or challenge him – on condition of having obtained 81 sponsorships from Labor MPs – by July 16, the deadline set by the Labor executive committee for submitting his candidacy. In the absence of a declared competitor, Andy Burnham would take the helm of Labor and the executive the next day.
For how long? British discontent will not go away with Keir Starmer, and the opposition is already contesting the legitimacy of the successor. Leading national polls for months, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage accuses Labor of wanting “designate a Prime Minister that no one has elected” and demands a return to the polls. Clever return to sender: Andy Burnham himself brandished this argument in 2022, after the resignation of Boris Johnson.
