Andy Burnham has been declared leader of the UK’s governing Labour Party, clearing the final hurdle before taking office as prime minister next week after replacing Keir Starmer.
The former Mayor of Greater Manchester was the only candidate in Labour’s leadership contest after Starmer announced his resignation following a rebellion within the party. Burnham secured the backing of 379 of Labour’s 403 MPs, making Friday’s declaration a formality.
In his first speech as party leader, Burnham promised to restore hope and rebuild public confidence in Labour.
“We’re going to give them hope back,” he told an audience of lawmakers, party activists and trade union leaders. “I am ready.”
Burnham said he would serve “people and places who have been waiting too long for politics to let them hope again.”
He also sought to reassure party members after Labour’s support fell sharply following its landslide election victory two years ago.
“I have a plan,” he said.
Burnham pledged to end internal divisions, adding: “we won’t beat Britain’s new right if we are consumed by infighting and pulling in different directions.”
He outlined plans to shift more decision-making powers from central government to local authorities across England.
“We will take power back from Westminster and Whitehall and give it to the place you live,” he said. “More power over life’s essentials so you can make them work better.”
Burnham has been prime minister-in-waiting since winning a parliamentary by-election last month but has so far revealed few details of his wider policy agenda. He is expected to take office at 10 Downing Street next week.
Starmer announced his resignation last month after two years as prime minister. His leadership came under growing pressure following poor local election results in May and Labour’s slide behind the anti-immigration Reform UK party in opinion polls.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
