LONDON — Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer held talks with Andy Burnham on Tuesday as Labour moves toward a potentially historic leadership transition following Starmer’s announcement that he will step down after losing the support of Labour MPs.
The hour-long meeting, first reported by The Times, marked the first face-to-face discussion between the two men since Burnham’s victory in last week’s Makerfield by-election. The talks come amid growing expectations that Burnham could soon take over the leadership of the Labour Party—and potentially become Britain’s next prime minister.
In a significant move aimed at ensuring continuity in government, Starmer has authorized official access talks between senior civil servants and prospective Labour leadership candidates. The briefings are designed to help candidates prepare for the responsibilities of governing and would normally only be granted to opposition leaders ahead of a general election.
Burnham is currently the only declared candidate in the race. If no challenger emerges before nominations close on 16 July, he could become Labour leader and prime minister as early as 17 July.
A Downing Street spokesman confirmed that the access talks would begin “as soon as possible” and would cover government formation, key policy priorities, and national security matters, including intelligence briefings.
The spokesman declined to say whether Burnham had formally requested the discussions, noting that the decision to provide access had only recently been approved.
Starmer Seeks Smooth Handover
Starmer informed Cabinet ministers on Tuesday morning that he intends to make the transition as seamless as possible for his successor.
According to his spokesman, the outgoing prime minister stressed that he wanted the next Labour leader to succeed and pledged to address outstanding challenges in the coming weeks to ease the handover process.
As part of that commitment, Starmer has agreed to delay major policy announcements and significant spending decisions until a new leader is in place.
His resignation comes less than two years after entering Downing Street, following mounting pressure and declining support within Labour’s parliamentary ranks.
Burnham Signals Different Direction
Although Burnham has yet to unveil a detailed policy platform, he is expected to begin outlining his vision for government in a series of speeches starting next week. The first is set to focus on devolution and economic growth, areas long associated with his political agenda as former Mayor of Greater Manchester.
The newly elected MP has already sought to reassure financial markets by committing to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ fiscal rules and ruling out major increases in government borrowing.
Burnham has also reaffirmed Labour’s manifesto commitment not to raise the main rates of income tax, VAT, or National Insurance, limiting his options for generating additional government revenue.
However, he has advocated for greater public control of utilities such as water companies, increased council house construction, and a broader strategy to “reindustrialise” the British economy.
Potential Rivals Remain Uncertain
Despite Burnham’s early frontrunner status, some Labour MPs remain uneasy about allowing him to assume the leadership without a contest.
Cabinet Office minister Darren Jones and former Armed Forces minister Al Carns have both been discussed as possible candidates by MPs seeking an alternative option.
Jones indicated that he is not currently planning to run but suggested he would want assurances regarding Burnham’s economic strategy before offering support.
Meanwhile, Carns told journalists in London that he has not ruled out entering the race, although it remains unclear whether either candidate could secure sufficient nominations to appear on the ballot.
With Labour facing one of the most consequential leadership transitions in recent years, attention is now focused on whether Burnham will secure an uncontested path to Downing Street or face a challenge from within his own party.
The coming weeks are expected to shape not only Labour’s future leadership but also the direction of government policy at a critical moment for the United Kingdom.
