London, United Kingdom. Andy Burnham is set to be elected leader of Britain’s governing Labour Party on Friday, ahead of replacing Keir Starmer as prime minister on Monday. He will become Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade after pledging to counter the rise of Reform UK.
Leadership election
Burnham, 56, is expected to secure the Labour leadership at a special conference after winning overwhelming backing from Labour lawmakers.
The vote is largely a formality following Burnham’s return to Parliament last month, when he won the Makerfield seat. His installation as prime minister concludes a four-week process that will remove Starmer, whose unpopularity across Britain led Labour lawmakers to turn against him.
Government agenda
Known as the “King of the North” for his defence of Greater Manchester’s interests while serving as the region’s mayor, Burnham will use his speech to outline an “authentically Labour” government focused on economic renewal, greater public control, re-industrialisation and returning power to local communities.
According to extracts of his speech, he will promise Britain “a new path to the one we’ve been on for the last 40 years” and say his government will be “unashamedly Labour in our priorities and in the decisions we take, putting people and places at the heart of everything we do”.
Burnham has given one speech since returning to Parliament. In it, he called for the “biggest rebalancing of power” from London to Britain’s regions, arguing that this would reduce inequality and address anger among “left-behind communities”.
Reform challenge
Burnham’s plan to counter Reform UK helped win support among Labour lawmakers concerned about losing seats to Nigel Farage’s populist party at the next national election, which is due by 2029.
Reform has led opinion polls for months. However, its position has been affected in recent weeks by Farage’s acceptance of funds from wealthy donors, potentially offering Burnham an opportunity to improve Labour’s standing.