Wes Streeting Drops Leadership Bid, Backs Andy Burnham After 55% Makerfield Win
Updated
Updated · spectator.com · Jun 22
Wes Streeting Drops Leadership Bid, Backs Andy Burnham After 55% Makerfield Win
3 articles · Updated · spectator.com · Jun 22
Summary
Wes Streeting has abandoned any run for Labour leader and thrown his support behind Andy Burnham, leaving Burnham close to taking the top job without a contest.
Labour MPs were already lining up behind Burnham's nomination, leaving Streeting without enough backing to mount a viable challenge.
Burnham only returned to Parliament last week after winning Makerfield with 55% of the vote, a rapid rise that could speed Labour's succession after Keir Starmer's resignation.
An uncontested handover would give Burnham little time to set out his platform before becoming Britain's next prime minister, with a general election potentially looming by autumn.