Andy Burnham has taken over as Labour leader and will officially become Prime Minister on Monday.
He was nominated to replace Sir Kier Starmer by 379 of Labour’s 403 MPs, making him the only candidate for the leadership.
Sir Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham in happier times
PA Wire
Labour leadership process
Nominations for a new Labour leader opened on July 9.
Potential candidates had to collect the backing of at least 81 MPs and three nominations from affiliated bodies, such as trade unions, before July 16.
Mr Burnham was only person to confirm he would run and received 379 MP nominations and support from all of the Labour affiliated trade unions and socialist societies.
Wes Streeting was due to be his main challenger. But the former health secretary later declared he would not run and would be supporting Mr Burnham. He is expected to be offered a prominent role in the next cabinet.
On Monday morning he will travel to Buckingham Palace to meet the King, where he will be invited to form a government.
Sir Keir is expected to give his final leaving speech on the steps of Downing Street before Mr Burnham takes over and arrives at Number 10 in the afternoon.
Traditionally, outgoing Prime Ministers are given 24 to 72 hours to move out of Downing Street to make way for their replacement in a rapid transition of power.
However, Mr Burnham will become leader days after Parliament goes into its summer recess when MPs traditionally go to live in their constituencies.
The ex-mayor has also insisted he plans to spend some of his working week in Manchester, so Sir Keir and his family may be given extra time to vacate the No 10 flat they have lived in since the July 2024 general election.
Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election in June
AFP/Getty
Sir Keir and Mr Burnham met for the first time since the Makerfield byelection at the end of June to thrash out a transition of power.
The PM reportedly agreed to the former Mayor of Manchester having talks with the civil service to ensure a smooth process.
Mr Burnham’s team had suggested they would have liked a longer changeover of power in September.
But they have insisted he will hit the ground running when he enters Downing Street and will set up a Number 10 in the North.
This will result in a “very powerful reorganisation of government”, deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell insisted.
“If we want an economy and a country that works for all people and places, which to me should always be at the very core of Labourism, then it requires a new path to the one we’ve been on for the last 40 years,” he said.
“The government I lead will confidently lay that path out starting next week, and that is why this change today is the most significant change moment in our politics for 40 years.
“It will take us to a country where life is more affordable, and all people and places are lifted from where they are now.
