Andy Burnham has become Prime Minister, with a strong transport reputation

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

An update, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Senior Labour figures say party is united behind Andy Burnham

The Labour Party is united behind Andy Burnham as its next leader, two senior party figures have told the BBC.

The party set out a timeline for a leadership contest following Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's resignation earlier this week, but there is scant evidence of support for any contenders other than Burnham.

Former defence minister Al Carns has said a speech on Monday, in which Burnham will set out his economic policy, will decide whether he challenges him for the Labour leadership.

Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell and Housing Secretary Steve Reed, who had stayed loyal to Sir Keir, both said that Labour MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) were backing a coronation of Burnham, rather than a contest.

Powell, the MP for Manchester Central, said that further devolution of powers to local areas would be a priority for Burnham's administration if he won the Labour leadership race. "He's got a really strong agenda about changing that," she said, adding that it was "something that, actually, was in our manifesto but we've really not realised in the scale and speed in which we should have. If we had more control over things like skills and local transportation we could better connect people to all those new job opportunities of the future."

Burnham is expected to give a closely watched speech in Manchester on Monday to outline his economic vision for the country, which will have a strong emphasis on devolution to drive growth and which could be key to winning over potential challengers such as Carns.

On Sunday, Badenoch said Burnham should set out his plans to Parliament in special one-day session before the summer recess, rather than in a speech to supporters on Monday as expected, if he becomes prime minister. She said: "Andy Burnham is days away from taking charge of the country and still has not told people the basics: Will he stick to the Labour manifesto? Will he borrow even more money? Will he fund the Defence Investment Plan so that our country is not at risk?"

She accused Sir Keir of entering No 10 without a plan, and said the country must not be forced to wait until Parliament returns in September to know the plan for the country. Badenoch added: "A speech full of warm words to a friendly crowd is not a substitute for speaking at the despatch box where MPs can question the substance of what he has said. "

A Labour party spokesperson responded by saying: "Labour's ruling body, the National Executive Committee, has set out a clear timetable for the election of the next Leader of the Labour Party. While that process is ongoing, the Labour Government is getting on with the job of delivering the change the country voted for and tackling the cost of living. MPs are able to scrutinise the government in the normal way, as the public would expect."

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Andy Burnham plans to work some days in Manchester as PM

Andy Burnham plans to spend some of his working week in Manchester if he becomes prime minister, the BBC has been told.

It is not clear whether he will spend a set number of days there, or whether there will be a more informal arrangement. But he plans to split his time between Downing Street and the North West, it is understood.

In his first speech since launching his Labour leadership bid, Burnham announced on Monday he would create a new "No 10 North" unit in Manchester if he replaces outgoing PM Sir Keir Starmer.

Burnham's allies hope his presence in the city would be a strong symbol of his commitment to devolve power away from Westminster.

The former mayor of Greater Manchester announced his intention to stand to replace Sir Keir last Monday, shortly after being elected as the MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) for Makerfield.

So far, he is the only Labour MP to announce a leadership bid. If he remains the sole candidate, he could become the next prime minister as early as 20 July.

Past prime ministers, including Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, have spent some time away from London in their constituencies, but those around Burnham say his arrangements would be different to the norm.

If Burnham chose to not to make Downing Street his main home, he would become the first prime minister since Labour premier Harold Wilson not to reside primarily in the famous London building.

Wilson lived in No 10 during his first term in office between 1964 and 1970, but opted to live at Lord North Street, a short walk from Parliament, during his second premiership between 1974 and 1976.

(BBC article continues)

Fair enough: Andy Burnham 'working from home' would limit his reliance on train services between Manchester and London - just for example.

[John D]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Andy Burnham plans to work some days in Manchester as PM

Andy Burnham plans to spend some of his working week in Manchester if he becomes prime minister, the BBC has been told.

It is not clear whether he will spend a set number of days there, or whether there will be a more informal arrangement. But he plans to split his time between Downing Street and the North West, it is understood.

In his first speech since launching his Labour leadership bid, Burnham announced on Monday he would create a new "No 10 North" unit in Manchester if he replaces outgoing PM Sir Keir Starmer.

(BBC article continues)

Fair enough: Andy Burnham 'working from home' would limit his reliance on train services between Manchester and London - just for example.

I think he lives near Golborne, don't know exact part, but his local stations would be Bryn or Newton-le-Willows

Golborne gets a new station in 18 months time (currently under construction). It formerly had two stations, South on LNWR^▸ (London North Western Railway) and North on Great Central (ex Liverpool, St Helens and South Lancashire Railway)

[ChrisB]

He'll have problems making urgent statements in the House then.

[Oxonhutch]

He'll have problems making urgent statements in the House then.

Depends on where 'The House' is.

  Oh, and wipe your boots on the way in wud yuh ...

[Oxonhutch]

Personally I think the House of Commons with a couple of Liver Birds on the top would be quite good.  The Cabinet Office is not too far away, next to the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page).

[Mark A]

“You go from deregulation to regaining public control, it’s just unbelievable what becomes possible,” said Andy Burnham.

Mark


https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/05/burnham-uk-transport-bee-network-manchester-buses-rail

[grahame]

“You go from deregulation to regaining public control, it’s just unbelievable what becomes possible,” said Andy Burnham.

Mark


https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/05/burnham-uk-transport-bee-network-manchester-buses-rail

Should - as seems probably - Andy Burnham become PM in coming weeks, he certainly comes to the role with a more active prior involvement with public transport than Keir Starmer has even had.   It will be interesting to see if the model he has used in Manchester is mapped wider, or if other issues such as "Ooze gonna pay for it" and a need for him to put his defence of the realm on his agenda where a defence of Manchester from Liverpool was unnecessary.   

Mark Hopwood noted on Thursday how many PMs, SoSs and Rail Ministers have come and gone since he took up the reins at FGW^▸ (First Great Western)/GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and I wonder if we'll see changes in the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)'s ministers before the end of this month, 

[Chris from Nailsea]

An update, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Andy Burnham set to be next Prime Minister as 322 Labour MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) back him in first nomination tally

Andy Burnham has taken another step towards becoming the next Labour leader and prime minister, after the vast majority of Labour MPs nominated him to replace Sir Keir Starmer.

Burnham's Labour leadership bid has been backed by 322 Labour MPs as he remains the only declared candidate after nominations began on Thursday.

It makes him just one short of the 323 needed before it is mathematically impossible for a rival to run against him. Some MPs say they were not able to vote on Thursday, but would back Burnham once they are back in Parliament.

If no one else enters the contest, as expected, Burnham will be declared Labour leader next week before taking office as prime minister on 20 July.

(BBC article continues)

[ChrisB]

That's just ONE nomination short of preventing any other Labour MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) getting the required 81 in order to be able to stand against him.

[grahame]

That's just ONE nomination short of preventing any other Labour MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) getting the required 81 in order to be able to stand against him.

The statistician in me reads this:

As well as 323 nominations - which is when no one else can reach the 81-MP threshold needed to run against him - Burnham would also need to garner nominations next week from at least three of the 31 socialist societies and trade unions affiliated to the party, although this is expected to be a formality for him.

and wonders what would happen if he failed to get trades union support ...

[Chris from Nailsea]

... and wonders what would happen if he failed to get trades union support ...

I can't see that happening: even the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) support Andy Burnham.  See their press release, at https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-responds-to-keir-starmer-announcing-resignation-timetable/ 

[Chris from Nailsea]

It's become a formality: Andy Burnham is Prime Minister in all but name, and within a week.

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Andy Burnham has effectively been confirmed as the new Labour leader with 349 of the party's MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) having now nominated him to replace Sir Keir Starmer.

After a second day of nominations, the MP for Makerfield received the support of a further 27 Labour MPs - putting him on track to become prime minister on 20 July, with it now mathematically impossible for a rival to run against him.

He still requires the backing of three organisations affiliated to the Labour Party, at least two of which must be trade unions, although this is expected to be a formality.

(BBC article continues)

[Witham Bobby]

Wait seven decades for a coronation, then two come along in three years

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Andy Burnham planning summer tour of UK^▸ (United Kingdom) in early weeks as PM

Andy Burnham will undertake a summer tour across the UK during the early weeks of his premiership.

Described as a "listening tour of the UK", Burnham will travel across the country in August while Parliament is in recess.

Among the areas understood to be on his itinerary is Port Talbot in south Wales, a town which saw the closure of its last steel-making blast furnace in September 2024.

The former Greater Manchester mayor will become prime minister on Monday but will not face MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) until September when the Commons returns from its six-week recess, unless he decides to recall Parliament.

Several Welsh Labour MPs have told BBC Wales that they understand Burnham intends to visit Port Talbot, once home to the UK's largest steelworks which has seen 2,800 job losses as it transitions to greener steel-making.

Some Welsh politicians have accused Labour of double standards, after it stepped in to save the British Steel plant in Scunthorpe in 2025 but did not do the same for Tata Steel's Port Talbot plant.

There are few details as to what policies Burnham will look to implement once in No 10, but a key part of his message thus far has been about devolving power away from Westminster towards local communities.

In a speech in Manchester at the end of June, the Makerfield MP made the case for more "powers to areas undergoing industrial transition, like Port Talbot, Scunthorpe and Aberdeen".

The Welsh Government has raised concerns that this might mean undermining devolution to Wales, with Plaid Cymru First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth saying there were "signs" Burnham might want to bypass the Senedd and the Welsh government.

Some Welsh MPs have also requested that Burnham makes stops in their constituencies.

Tonia Antoniazzi, Labour MP for Gower, a peninsula in south Wales, said: "I'd love him to visit for a pint and a dip [in the sea] and hear first hand from my constituents what matters to them."

There are reports that Burnham will also visit Aberdeen, a city at the heart of the debate around the UK's energy future and home of GB^▸ (Great Britain) Energy - the government's fledgling publicly-owned energy company.

The Conservatives won the recent by-election for Aberdeen South, held on the same day as the Makerfield election which Burnham won.

Burnham will become the leader of the Labour Party on Friday, having received support from the overwhelming majority of his party's MPs. He will replace Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister on Monday.

With Burnham entering No 10 without a general election or a leadership contest, his immediate priority will be to shore up support across the country as he sets out his vision for government.  He is also facing calls to connect to voters outside of London and the north-west of England.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, who has dubbed Burnham "Avanti Andy" after the rail franchise that serves Manchester, said: ""From the Devon coast to Swansea's streets and Shetland's shores, people are utterly fed up with being overlooked.  Andy Burnham has a very short window to turn this government around, end the chaos and build trust with communities the whole length and breadth of the UK."

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle can recall Parliament during the summer recess if asked to do so by the government, once deciding whether it is in the public interest.

The Conservatives had planned to use their scheduled opposition day debate on Wednesday to force a vote on adding one sitting day, so that MPs could question Burnham about his plans for government.  But the debate was ditched by the government so MPs could debate the ongoing crisis in the Middle East instead.

Burnham has faced calls from some within Labour to offer more details on policies he will look to implement in government.

He has also faced accusations of avoiding media scrutiny since becoming an MP and announcing his intention to stand. He has so far given interviews to LBC and Gary Lineker, while he has also hosted an online Q and A session on Reddit.

During that Q and A, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch challenged Burnham to "come out from hiding, face a proper press conference and submit yourself to scrutiny and some tough questions".

Burnham replied: Fair challenge Kemi - but don't forget it's only two weeks since I faced questions from 74,000 members of the public of Makerfield."

I don't see any reference to Melksham in Andy's itinerary, but you never know ...