Burnham sworn in as MP after Starmer steps down

Smiling ‘King of the North’ makes triumphant return to Westminster as prime minister resigns ‘with good grace’

- DAVID MADDOX MILLIE COOKE

Andy Burnham is expected to become Britain’s prime minister in just 25 days’ time after Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation yesterday with an emotional statement in Downing Street.

Just under two years since leading Labour to a historic landslide election victory, Sir Keir said he accepted he had lost the support of his MPs and vowed to step down “with good grace”.

He said nominations would be taken on 9 July for his replacement, opening the way for a possible contest - but a “coronation” of the former Greater Manchester mayor was all but confirmed when his main rival Wes Streeting backed him to lead the party, making it almost certain that Mr Burnham will be the only candidate when nominations close on 16 July.

Some Labour MPs tried to persuade Sir Keir’s chief secretary Darren Jones to stand in order to force a contest, but a source described that outcome as “unlikely”.

Mr Burnham was greeted with loud cheers from the Labour benches in the House of Commons as he was finally sworn in as an MP following last week’s by-election victory in Makerfield. His train journey from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston was tracked live on news channels.

One MP heckled his signing-in, joking: “He’s not the messiah!” Acknowledging the reference to Monty Python’s Life of Brian, Mr Burnham replied: “Naughty boy.”

Labour MPs - except Sir Keir - then joined him in Westminster Hall for a photo with the man they expect to be their next leader, with one wryly describing the day’s events as “regime change”.

Mr Burnham now has until 16 July, when nominations officially close for candidates, to form his top team and confirm his policy priorities.