Wes Streeting backs Andy Burnham to become Labour leader and PM

Politics The Guardian By Peter Walker Senior political correspondent 22 Jun 2026 11:03 1 min read

Former health secretary decides not to run, making Burnham overwhelming favourite to succeed Keir Starmer as soon as July UK politics live – latest updates Wes Streeting has said he will back Andy Burnham to become the next Labour leader, making it highly likely that Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor, will replace Keir Starmer as prime minister in July. In a post on X, Burnham, who will be sworn in as an MP later on Monday after winning last week’s Makerfield byelection, said Starme

Former health secretary decides not to run, making Burnham overwhelming favourite to succeed Keir Starmer as soon as July

UK politics live – latest updates

Wes Streeting has said he will back Andy Burnham to become the next Labour leader, making it highly likely that Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor, will replace Keir Starmer as prime minister in July.

In a post on X, Burnham, who will be sworn in as an MP later on Monday after winning last week’s Makerfield byelection, said Starmer’s announcement on Monday that he would stand down as prime minister “marks the beginning of a transition and it is important that this process is conducted in an orderly and responsible way”, adding: “I will put myself forward as part of this process.”

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