Andy Burnham is poised to become the new leader of the UK's Labour Party and subsequently Prime Minister after other potential contenders ruled themselves out. Burnham, who needs at least 80 signatures from Labour lawmakers and is expected to exceed that target, has secured the backing of former Defence Minister Al Carns. Nominations close on July 16, with Burnham likely to be announced as leader on July 17 and to meet King Charles III on July 20 to take office. Burnham, previously Mayor of Manchester, promises a new economic approach called 'Manchesterism' to boost growth and address public service challenges.
Labour Party's Andy Burnham reacts as he delivers a speech at the People's History Museum in Manchester, England on Jun 29, 2026. Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results.will be collecting signatures from Labour lawmakers and needs at least 80 to run – a target he’s likely to well exceed.
Other potential contenders have all ruled themselves out. Former Defence Minister Al Carns, who had been pondering a run, confirmed late on Wednesday that he will not challenge Burnham.
“I’d hoped a leadership contest would give us the opportunity for a proper debate,” Carns said in a statement. “But months of internal Labour politics isn’t what the country needs right now. We’ve got to get on with the job. Andy Burnham’s earned this and he’s got my full backing.
”Nominations remain open until Jul 16. Burnham is highly likely to be announced as the new Labour leader the following day, and to become prime minister after a meeting with King Charles III on Jul 20. Starmer announced last month that he would resign as soon as his centre-left party chose a successor.
He was elected in a landslide in July 2024, but quit after two years in office marred by missteps and judgment errors that eroded his standing with his party and the public. Burnham spent almost a decade running Manchester in northwest England before returning to Parliament by winning a special election last month.
He’s promising sweeping change, vowing to reverse almost two decades of low growth since the 2008 financial crisis through an approach dubbed “Manchesterism” - harnessing private and public money to invest in areas like transport, housing and infrastructure. But he will face many of the same political and economic challenges as Starmer, including a sluggish economy, tattered public services and a cost-of-living squeeze.
He also promised continuity in foreign policy, writing in The Times of London that the government’s “commitment to NATO and the UK’s nuclear deterrent will remain absolute”.
Please follow us on Google to support usLabour Party Andy Burnham UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Leadership Contest Manchesterism Al Carns King Charles III UK Politics British Government
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Eight Singapore Hawker Centres to Close for Scheduled Spring Cleaning in Mid-JulyA total of eight hawker centres across Singapore will close for one to three days from July 13 for deep cleaning, as part of a regular maintenance program by the National Environment Agency and Town Councils to ensure hygiene standards.
Read more »
Malaysia's Johor State Election Set for July 11 with 2.7 Million VotersMalaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed that the Johor state election will proceed on July 11 with over 2.7 million voters and 172 candidates competing for 56 seats, emphasizing that Singapore will not be involved in voting arrangements for Malaysians in the republic.
Read more »
Singapore rejects USTR’s forced-labour import findingsSingapore rejected USTR findings on forced-labour import bans, saying US data shows no evidence linking local exports to such goods.
Read more »
Singapore COE Premiums Hit New Records Across Categories in July 2024 BiddingCertificate of Entitlement premiums in Singapore reached unprecedented levels in the latest bidding round, with Category A and B cars, as well as commercial vehicles, setting new records amid strong demand and constrained supply.
Read more »