Has Starmer’s Resignation Opened the Door for Burnham?

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Zuzana Moscakova, Chief Reporter                    Vanesa Zackova, Political Editor

Following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation as Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party, Andy Burnham has emerged as the frontrunner in the race to take over the party and form a new Westminster administration.


After a difficult period that saw Labour return to office with a landslide victory in 2024 before suffering a significant decline in political popularity, Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation as Prime Minister and Labour leader. Until the party chooses a replacement, he will continue to serve as Prime Minister in Downing Street.

In a statement made outside No. 10, Starmer said that many members of his own party no longer believed he was the best candidate to lead Labour into the next general election. His resignation follows weeks of speculation surrounding his future, driven by a series of poor electoral results, growing dissatisfaction among Labour MPs, and increasing pressure from senior party figures.

For a leader who, less than two years ago, led Labour’s return to power after 14 years in opposition, the decision marks a remarkable political downfall. Starmer entered office promising stability and economic growth. Still, his administration struggled to maintain public confidence through policy disagreements and criticism from both the centrist and left-wing factions of the party.

Andy Burnham has recently attracted significant attention after announcing his intention to run in the upcoming Labour leadership election. Burnham, the newly elected MP for Makerfield and former Mayor of Greater Manchester, is widely regarded as the leading candidate to succeed Starmer as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

His rise to the top of the race has been building for months. After returning to Westminster through the Makerfield by-election, Burnham became one of the most prominent critics of Starmer’s leadership, arguing that Labour needed a “fundamental change” in direction to reconnect with voters.

Burnham received a major boost when former Health Secretary Wes Streeting officially backed his campaign and ruled himself out of the contest. Streeting urged Labour members to unite behind a single candidate, arguing that the party could not afford a divisive internal battle at a time when it faces increasing challenges from opposition parties.

Political commentators have long regarded Burnham as one of Labour’s most recognisable figures. Unlike Starmer, whose critics often described him as remote and overly technical, Burnham has built a reputation as a retail politician capable of connecting with voters beyond Westminster. Supporters believe these qualities could help Labour recover after months of political instability.

According to reports, a majority of Labour MPs had called for change at the top, while several senior figures publicly questioned whether Starmer could successfully lead the party into the next general election.

Under Labour Party rules, nominations for the leadership contest are expected to open in July. If Burnham secures sufficient support and avoids a serious challenger, he could become party leader within weeks. However, if the contest becomes competitive, party members will be invited to vote before a new leader is formally selected.

For now, Westminster enters yet another period of uncertainty. However, as Labour begins the process of selecting its next leader, Andy Burnham appears closer than ever to achieving a political ambition that has defined much of his career: becoming Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

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