Al Carns Drops Labour Leadership Bid, Leaving Andy Burnham as Sole Declared Candidate
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 8
Al Carns Drops Labour Leadership Bid, Leaving Andy Burnham as Sole Declared Candidate
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 8
Summary
Al Carns said he will not run for Labour leader and urged the party to unite behind Andy Burnham, calling a contest "not the best use of Labour's time."
Tuesday talks with Burnham shifted Carns from skepticism earlier this week to support, with the former defence minister saying Burnham would "make the right decisions and move the country forward."
Burnham is now the only Labour MP to declare, after Keir Starmer resigned as prime minister last month and Wes Streeting also chose to back him.
Thursday opens the nomination window, with candidates needing support from 81 Labour MPs plus affiliated groups or local parties; if Burnham reaches 323 MP nominations, no rival can enter.
That path could make Burnham Labour leader by July 17 and prime minister by July 20, accelerating a handover after his return to Westminster in last month's Makerfield by-election.