Practically clear: Burnham will be the new Prime Minister

 

TT-APA 

Published 07:51Updated 08:05

  

England's new Prime Minister is Andy Burnham. Photo: Alastair Grant /AP

Around 350 of 404 Labour MPs have now backed Andy Burnham.

This means that it is practically clear that the "King in the North" will be the new British Prime Minister.

According to the rules, a candidate must gather support from at least 20 percent of the party's members in the House of Commons in London. Currently, there are 81 members. But Burnham has now gathered support from so many that it is mathematically impossible for anyone else to participate in the leadership election.

No other Labour politician has raised his hand to succeed Keir Starmer, who after a series of political setbacks recently announced that he is resigning as party leader and thus as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

56-year-old Burnham is called the "King in the North" because he built his popularity in northern England, as mayor of the Greater Manchester metropolitan area.