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Original poster

Burnham unopposed & likely to be PM by mid July

540 replies

Twiglets1 · 22/06/2026 12:36

Wes Streeting confirms on social media that he won’t stand as a candidate for the Labour leadership. He says that a contest where candidates spent the summer “exaggerating small differences” would not be good for the party or the country, and having spoken to Burnham, he is confident that that there is “a place” for the policies he has been advocating under a Burnham premiership.

The Guardian say this means it is now very, very likely that Burnham will be PM be mid July. It is conceivable that another candidate may come forward. But, apart from Streeting, no one else has publicly signalled an intention to stand, and with Burnham now a shoo-in, it is hard to imagine any other MP getting the support they would need to be a candidate.

heguardian.com/politics/live/2026/jun/22/keir-starmer-resignation-timeable-andy-burnham-labour-leadership-prime-minister-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6a390a538f08adffab1e97fd#block-6a390a538f08adffab1e97fd

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Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 22/06/2026 17:32

He might prefer to do that. If I were Keir Starmer, I'd tell him sod that, he's said he's off in early July and that's that. He can have a nice summer with his wife and kids and get ready to move up to the House of Lords (if that's what he wants) and the rest of the Labour Party can get stuck in with sorting everything out. Everything will be tickety boo by September, surely? Hmm

WorriedMutha · 22/06/2026 15:23

I think the Burnham team yesterday were saying they would prefer to take over in September. That gives him time to read in and he gets to launch like a conquering hero at the conference.
It also means the Starmer regime has to deal with some of the thorny issues like the defence budget and the imminent conversion therapy bill. The last thing Burnham will want from the get go is decisive issues. He better get used to it.
He will also have to deal with the Manchester mayoral election.
Let's see how long Andymania lasts.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 22/06/2026 15:07

It will be quite a sight at the Cenotaph in November. One serving PM and (barring accidents) nine former PMs. Surely some sort of record.

Original poster
Twiglets1 · 22/06/2026 15:02

WorriedMutha · 22/06/2026 14:55

I'm angry about the Burnham ambush. I hope he isn't opposed so that he is in the hot seat by mid July. Let his see how easy it is now that he's got all those backbenchers to please whilst appealing to Reform voters in the red wall and Green voters in the cities. He'll be trashed by Christmas.

I think he would prefer to have until September himself but it's not his choice to make so he may well be in the hot seat by July.

Starmer will be having a lovely long holiday somewhere peaceful by then if he has any sense.

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WorriedMutha · 22/06/2026 14:55

I'm angry about the Burnham ambush. I hope he isn't opposed so that he is in the hot seat by mid July. Let his see how easy it is now that he's got all those backbenchers to please whilst appealing to Reform voters in the red wall and Green voters in the cities. He'll be trashed by Christmas.

Original poster
Twiglets1 · 22/06/2026 14:51

Bromptotoo · 22/06/2026 14:46

The need for 81 MP nominations plus a union or two may be a high bar to clear as it's reported 200 are signed up to AB's flag.

Wow 200 must be very off-putting for the others!

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EasternStandard · 22/06/2026 14:51

Twiglets1 · 22/06/2026 12:41

Must admit I'm surprised (and disappointed) that Streeting isn't standing.

Reading between the lines, he probably feels like he doesn't have enough support and Burnham has promised him a Cabinet position if he endorses his leadership.

The momentum is with Burnham, some saying he has 300 MPs onside.

Original poster
Twiglets1 · 22/06/2026 14:51

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 22/06/2026 14:41

The BBC correspondents seem absolutely convinced Burnham will be elected unopposed. He must have done a lot of deals over the weekend. Streeting's letter confirming he wouldn't stand was out around an hour after Starmer's resignation, and during that time Burnham was saying goodbye to his staff in Manchester and heading for the train to London.

Any thoughts on who might be in his Cabinet? I'm assuming a new Chancellor but some of the others will stay in post.

Yes the BBC Chief political correspondent said, "The crude political reality is that even Labour MPs with misgivings about Burnham are now likely to back him in the hope of getting a job in his government".

Who will be in the Cabinet is an interesting one. Streeting of course, and maybe some of the others that considered running for PM? I don't know.

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Bromptotoo · 22/06/2026 14:46

The need for 81 MP nominations plus a union or two may be a high bar to clear as it's reported 200 are signed up to AB's flag.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 22/06/2026 14:41

The BBC correspondents seem absolutely convinced Burnham will be elected unopposed. He must have done a lot of deals over the weekend. Streeting's letter confirming he wouldn't stand was out around an hour after Starmer's resignation, and during that time Burnham was saying goodbye to his staff in Manchester and heading for the train to London.

Any thoughts on who might be in his Cabinet? I'm assuming a new Chancellor but some of the others will stay in post.

Bromptotoo · 22/06/2026 14:37

Twiglets1 · 22/06/2026 12:41

Must admit I'm surprised (and disappointed) that Streeting isn't standing.

Reading between the lines, he probably feels like he doesn't have enough support and Burnham has promised him a Cabinet position if he endorses his leadership.

I don't think Streeting would have got the votes of party members in anything like the numbers needed.

He's too Blairy and was too close to Mandelson.

Occupying a marginal set that's vulnerable to being seized by an independent doesn't help either.

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 22/06/2026 13:24

Twiglets1 · 22/06/2026 12:41

Must admit I'm surprised (and disappointed) that Streeting isn't standing.

Reading between the lines, he probably feels like he doesn't have enough support and Burnham has promised him a Cabinet position if he endorses his leadership.

Yes, I think it's highly likely that he has realised that he doesn't have the numbers. And he has probably been promised one of the big cabinet jobs.

Original poster
Twiglets1 · 22/06/2026 13:17

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 22/06/2026 12:43

This hasn’t been confirmed yet. If there is just one candidate they will take over mid-July if more than candidate it will be early September after contest.

No it hasn't been confirmed yet but it is very likely.

The only half serious potential contenders against him now would be Ed Miliband, Alistair Carns or Angela Rayner. But none of them are at all likely to win against Andy Burnham so a more pragmatic thing for them to do would be to signal allegiance to him.

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GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 22/06/2026 12:43

This hasn’t been confirmed yet. If there is just one candidate they will take over mid-July if more than candidate it will be early September after contest.

Original poster
Twiglets1 · 22/06/2026 12:41

Must admit I'm surprised (and disappointed) that Streeting isn't standing.

Reading between the lines, he probably feels like he doesn't have enough support and Burnham has promised him a Cabinet position if he endorses his leadership.

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