322 of Labour’s 403 MPs backed Andy Burnham on the first day of nominations, crushing the 81-signature threshold and leaving him all but certain to become party leader and prime minister.
July 16 is the nominations deadline, but other potential challengers have already stepped aside, including former defense minister Al Carns, making a contest effectively impossible.
July 20 is when Burnham is expected to become prime minister after meeting King Charles III, replacing Keir Starmer, who said last month he would resign once Labour chose a successor.
Burnham, who returned to Parliament only last month after nearly a decade as Greater Manchester mayor, is pitching “Manchesterism” to revive growth while keeping firm support for NATO, the U.S. and Ukraine.
He also signaled a sharper line on Gaza than Starmer, saying Britain was too slow to call for a ceasefire and could consider further sanctions and curbs on trade with illegal settlements.