Andy Burnham appears poised to become Labour’s next leader unopposed, with no other candidates declaring ahead of the opening of nominations on Thursday.
Al Carns, thought to be the final remaining potential challenger to the former Greater Manchester mayor, ruled himself out of the running on Wednesday evening.
Former armed forces minister Carns said: “I’d hoped a leadership contest would give us the opportunity for a proper debate.
“But months of internal Labour politics isn’t what the country needs right now. We’ve got to get on with the job
“Andy Burnham’s earned this and he’s got my full backing.”
When would Andy Burnham become Labour leader and prime minister?
Prospective candidates need the backing of 81 MPs to put themselves forward to replace Sir Keir Starmer, who resigned last month under increasing pressure from his party.
In the absence of any other candidates, 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.
The Makerfield MP, now widely regarded as prime minister-in-waiting, will still take part in an online hustings with Labour MPs on Monday evening, even if he is the only one in the running.
What happens if another candidate emerges?
If there is more than one candidate, the Labour leadership challenge will take place between August 6 and 27, with the result announced on August 29.
Starmer would remain as prime minister until parliament’s return on September 1.
What is Burnham’s foreign policy?
Writing in The Times on the eve of nominations opening, Burnham said he would seek stability in his foreign policy as prime minister as he set out his commitment to Nato, the nuclear deterrent, maintaining close ties with the US and support for Ukraine as well as continuing to bolster relations with the EU.
Starmer’s national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, will be kept on in the role, he said.
The boost to defence spending set out in Starmer’s defence investment plan should be used to back British businesses and economic growth with a focus on inward investment, he said.
He also said he was committed to “levelling with” the public over spending decisions.
He added: “I want to be more open with the public about how and where defence funding is spent.
“For our biggest defence and infrastructure projects, I want to see more detailed, public progress updates, with more transparency and accountability to tackle cost overruns or delays before they spiral out of control.
“Our increased investment must be combined with an increase in scrutiny.”
Could there be a general election?
Burnham has said that if he becomes prime minister, he will not call a general election, but revealed he will seek to persuade Labour to put voting reform in its next manifesto.
He is under no legal obligation to call a general election before the scheduled end of Parliament in 2029, though a prime minister can choose to do so at any point before then.
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