Andy Burnham is set to enter 10 Downing Street within weeks (Image: Getty)
Andy Burnham is set to be the next prime minister after 322 Labour MPs nominated him to take over from Sir Keir Starmer. The Makerfield MP is the only declared candidate in the Labour leadership race and is on course for a coronation within weeks.
It leaves only 81 Labour MPs left who could nominate another contender, the minimum needed to get on to the ballot. But convention dictates that the outgoing leader does not nominate anyone, meaning in reality there are no longer enough undeclared MPs to back an alternative to Mr Burnham.
The former Greater Manchester mayor said he was “deeply grateful” to the Labour MPs who nominated him and said their support comes from across the party.
He said: “That is the circuit breaker I am offering: power out of Westminster, an economy rewired for ordinary people, and good growth in every postcode.
“I want to empower MPs to bring the experiences of their constituents into the heart of government, and harness the full breadth of our Labour movement, drawing on all its traditions and beliefs in pursuit of a common purpose.
“I want to thank every colleague who has nominated me for their commitment to that vision.”
Mr Burnham secured the nominations by 5pm today, the first day MPs could formally back a leadership candidate.
Almost every member of the Cabinet backed him, as did former health secretary Wes Streeting and former armed forces minister Al Carns who had previously been regarded as potential challengers.
Just three Cabinet members did not nominate Mr Burnham today – Housing Secretary Steve Reed, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and party chairwoman Anna Turley.
But this does not necessarily mean they do not support him, as nominations must be made in person or through a limited number of proxy votes.
In the absence of any other candidates, Mr Burnham will be formally declared Labour leader at a special conference on July 17 and is expected to then become prime minister on July 20.
He will still take part in an online hustings with Labour MPs on Monday evening, even if he is the only one in the running.
As nominations opened earlier, Sir Keir told reporters he thought Mr Burnham would make a good prime minister, saying they had known each other “a long time”.