Burnham unopposed & likely to be PM by mid July

[Twiglets1]

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

I’m not calling for a new centrist party.

Just saying my politics are centrist so I like moderate leaders- no one too left wing or too right wing. Blair was the perfect example of this for a long time though I appreciate his reputation was tarnished by his fateful involvement in a foreign war.

It doesn’t make a practical difference if it’s a “coronation” or not - Burnham will be PM either way.

Absolutely no ambush from the back. Burnham’s position/plan to become leader has been clear for months.

I don't see Burnham as self serving. I see him as a labour man who saw what a shit show was happening. I would have been pissed off in his position and thought I could do a better job. Some of us think that every day but aren't in the position to do much about it.
Starmer has been useless with his dithering and cover ups. On top the bloody press destroying everything as they do. But if you were squeaky clean and didn't let other men buy your wife frocks or give mandelson a plum job you would have a chance. I mean I've always bought my own dresses and I'm on a lesser wage than the Starmer's.
Let's hope Burnham has not got any skeletons in his closet but I think he's been around long enough for them to be out by now.

In that case he should be ready to go - none of this need a bit of time for policy setting or wot not?

Yeah, I think he should take over ASAP - much better for the country than a 'lame duck' PM. Burnham can announce his programme for change at conference in September, if he likes, but he should have his hand on the tiller before then.

If only we could clone Count Binface.

This is a problem that affects both main parties. They are effectively broad coalitions rather than single parties. This is a direct consequence of not having PR. If we had PR they would be separate parties that might come together in coalitions rather than a single party that is constantly infighting.

We don't know Burnham's policies.
We didn't know keir's either but then neither did he.

We need someone who can listen to experts when they have no expertise. But real experts.not civil service.

With no real economy the UK is screwed. We need more affordable energy urgently.

They had 14 years in opposition to get ready for power. And failed. Completely.
2 years in with a massive majority and they've damaged the country.
He's got a lot to sort out.

Indeed. At least there would be hilarity amongst the chaos, and not just chaos.

It's a real race to the bottom. Burnham looked so smug going into Parliament yesterday. What a total, self serving prick.

Yes I agree, but thinking aloud, would the issues be the same- i.e. nothing gets done? Although I guess the centrist parties would be those most likely to be able to cooperate so it would also stop the drift to the fringes

e.g. the "one nation tories" have zero hope in the current environment- they are totally stranded and in danger of becoming extinct. If PR existed they could have their own party and look to be part of a coalition.

I felt that way too. What a time to be alive.

Early on in WW2 party politics was abandoned and there was a coalition government with everybody working towards one goal - fighting the war and protecting the civilian population. I wish we could ditch party politics now and have a government of national unity, with talented competent people from all sides of the political divide working to put long-term solutions in place for the really big issues, e.g.:

• strengthening the economy and getting a much higher percentage of working age people into work and paying taxes;
• how to pay for health and social care and welfare at a time of falling birth rates and rising life expectancy (but not healthy life expectancy)
• preparing for the challenges from our changing climate
• regaining control of vital infrastructure like water from companies who've put profit before the service they're supposed to provide

Yes @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g listening to the shit show fake pantomime I mean pmqs on a Wednesday is just a disgrace. It reenforces division.

“An imposter (or impostor) is a person who assumes a false identity or pretends to be someone else to deceive others, typically for personal or financial gain.”

LBC were discussing yesterday that Andy Burnham has said he has had impostor syndrome in the past.

Looks more like the real impostor now.
Where is the Burnham Plan @SheilaFentiman - if he has been ready to go for months as you claim why has he not published a detailed essay on his Burnham Plan for Britain?
Or is it more Burnham Burns Britain?
Which one is it going to be?

Lots of countries have Mayors that go on to lead. It widens the talent pool, allows people to show skills at local levels, cities and regions can act as policy laboratories, there are lots of benefits. We are way too Westminster focused in the UK and that alienates a lot of people. The rules and the whipping in the HoC means it can be difficult to develop your own identity within but separate to the party.
I hope AB is a success (more for the country than my politics) and I then hope mayors becoming or running for PM becomes common and rules are changed to facilitate this.
Just because we have always done something doesn’t mean it’s good. The UK constitution evolves and this may be a good evolution.

Really? Streeting is an absolute arse who has been awful in health and is a big mate of Mandelson. Why would you want him as PM?

Probably. He has a lot of the MPs onside already.

He has and he now has Streeting’s supporters too. It’s debatable whether anyone else could muster the 81 supporters needed to stand against him.

Because in my opinion he has been good in health.

What makes you say he has been awful in health?

Where is the Burnham Plan?

The Burnham plan is for Burnham to get into number 10. Don't think there is a plan beyond that.

I then hope mayors becoming or running for PM becomes common and rules are changed to facilitate this.

Worked out well for Boris. Oh, no, hang on....

Likability is subjective though. Who decides this?

Not always necessary for this role either! Just get the job done.

I agree, he’s been excellent in health.

Where is the Burnham Plan - if he has been ready to go for months as you claim why has he not published a detailed essay on his Burnham Plan for Britain?

My point was around this not being an ambush from the back (which is how you put it). His intent to run for the leadership has been clear for months; he sought to be selected for a constituency previously, which was blocked by KS.

Burnham is a senior Labour party figure. The Labour party's manifesto has cross party buy in from the Cabinet/Shadow Cabinet, the National Policy Forum (which includes party members and affiliated unions), as well as from the leader. The fact we have a parliamentary not a presidential system is the basis on which leaders can be changed without calling a GE. IMO, the path he will follow will be guided by the manifesto, adapting as he goes.

Also, why would he have published a detailed essay before he had even become an MP?!