Burnham cements Labour leadership with backing of 349 MPs

Burnham cements Labour leadership with backing of 349 MPsImage source, Getty ImagesByJames GregoryPolitical reporterPublished3 minutes agoAndy Burnham has effectively been confirmed as the new Labour leader after 349 MPs have nominated him to replace Sir Keir Starmer.It is now mathematically impossible for a rival to run against the MP for Makerfield, with Burnham on track to become prime minister on 20 July.He still requires the backing of three organisations affiliated to the Labour Party, at least two of which must be trade unions, although this is expected to be a formality for him.The former mayor of Greater Manchester will field questions from Labour MPs as the only participant in an online hustings on Monday evening.It marks an extraordinary rise to power for a man who only returned to Westminster three weeks ago following his historic by-election win in Makerfield.In a statement on Thursday after receiving the backing of 322 MPs in the first day of nominations, Burnham said support for him had come from across the party and reflected a "shared belief that Britain needs a new approach to politics"."That is the circuit breaker I am offering: power out of Westminster, an economy rewired for ordinary people, and good growth in every postcode," Burnham said.Burnham's own by-election victory and heavy Labour losses in May's local elections left Sir Keir facing calls from his own MPs for him to stand aside and allow Burnham to replace him.Sir Keir quit as Labour leader on the same day Burnham was sworn in as an MP.Burnham has twice before run to become the Labour leader, in 2010 and 2015 - losing to Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn respectively. This time round, he has run unopposed and his route to No 10 will not require a vote over the summer among party members and affiliated trade union supporters.Wes Streeting, Sir Keir's former health secretary, had been seen as a possible challenger, but he endorsed Burnham shortly after the p...