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Labour MPs Weigh Leadership Challenges to Stop Unopposed Burnham succession
Two Labour MPs are considering launching leadership bids to prevent Andy Burnham from becoming the next Prime Minister without a contest, following Keir Starmer’s sudden resignation yesterday, June 22.
Al Carns and Darren Jones are weighing potential challenges to ensure a competitive race takes place before the party selects its next leader.
Burnham, the newly elected MP for Makerfield, quickly emerged as the leader to take over the top job after Starmer stepped down.
Under party rules, if no other candidate stands, Burnham could officially become Prime Minister by next month.
While Jones has not ruled out a bid, a challenge from his camp is currently considered unlikely. Right now, it appears improbable that either Carns or Jones would secure enough support from fellow Labour MPs to mount a viable campaign.
However, observers note that the official start of the race is still a long time away. Formal nominations do not open until July 9, leaving time for political alignments to shift within the parliamentary party before the July 16 closing deadline.
Burnham’s position gained significant momentum on Monday when former Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced he was backing Burnham, while previously viewed as his biggest rival.
