Which Labour MPs Are Backing Andy Burnham to Be the Next Prime Minister?

Sir Keir Starmer has announced he is stepping down as prime minister of the United Kingdom. He made this announcement just days after Andy Burnham won a special election to become the MP for Makerfield, a seat in parliament. Many people in the Labour Party believe Burnham is the most likely person to take over as party leader and, from there, become the next prime minister. Sir Keir stood outside Number 10 Downing Street and said that walking up that street two years ago was "the proudest moment of my life."

Sir Keir asked the Labour Party's governing body to open nominations for a new leader on 9 July, with the process finished by 16 July, before Parliament takes its summer break. This plan would make sure a new leader is ready when Parliament comes back on 1 September. Burnham himself was heading to Westminster to be sworn in as an MP on the same day Starmer made his announcement.

One of the biggest surprises came from Wes Streeting, who used to be the health secretary. Instead of running for leader himself, he announced he would support Andy Burnham instead. He wrote that with Burnham leading, Labour could still "change our country" and show that "politics can be a force for good." Streeting had been seen as the second most popular choice among Labour MPs, so his decision not to run likely makes it easier for Burnham to win without a contest.

Burnham is not new to Westminster. He served as a Labour MP from 2001 to 2017 and held several important government jobs, including health minister. He later became the Mayor of Greater Manchester, where he became well known for his work on public transport and public health. In his victory speech in Makerfield, he said that "politics isn't working" and called his win a possible "turning point" for the country.

Angela Rayner, the former deputy prime minister, had been preparing to run for leader herself if Burnham had lost in Makerfield. She had also warned Sir Keir that keeping Burnham out of Parliament was a "mistake," saying the party needed to bring its "best players" into Parliament. Now that Burnham has won his seat, Rayner is expected to support him. Her allies say she hopes to return to a top job, possibly as deputy prime minister or even foreign secretary under Burnham.

Louise Haigh, the former transport secretary, played a major role in helping Burnham win in Makerfield. She managed his campaign and has worked closely alongside him. Haigh resigned from the cabinet in 2024 after admitting she had made a false report to police about a stolen phone years earlier. Since then, she has become one of Burnham's closest helpers and is a key member of Labour's Tribune group, a collection of MPs on the "soft left" of the party.

Lucy Powell, the deputy leader of the Labour Party, is also understood to be a Burnham ally. She is a fellow Manchester MP and said the party needed to "make use" of Burnham after Labour lost a different by-election in February. Ed Miliband, the energy secretary and a former Labour leader himself, is another ally. Reports suggest he had thought about running for leader himself before it became clear Burnham was likely to enter the race.

Several other politicians are also expected to back Burnham. Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, is considered a political ally and is expected to support him. Kim Johnson, the MP for Knowsley, worked as the "political lead" on Burnham's campaign in Makerfield and has strong links to the trade union movement. Miatta Fahnbulleh, a former communities minister, was the first person to quit Sir Keir's government in May and has since been helping Burnham develop his policy ideas.

Clive Lewis, the MP for Norwich South, has been one of Burnham's loudest supporters in Westminster. He even offered to give up his own seat last November to help Burnham get back into Parliament. Speaking on TV, Lewis said Burnham is "coming back to be prime minister," not just to serve as a backbencher. Veteran MP John McDonnell, who was once on a very different side of the Labour Party from Burnham, also said he would back him.

Many MPs on the left of the Labour Party are also comfortable with the idea of Burnham becoming prime minister. They like his positions on public ownership, giving more power to local governments, and economic independence. With Streeting stepping aside and no other candidate thought to have enough MP support to enter the race, Burnham could end up becoming Labour leader without any competition at all.