The change of power in the UK

Burnham the only name when Starmer is to be replaced

The Labour Party is opening nominations for the party leadership position today after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation.

Everything points to former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham being Starmer's successor. At the moment he is the only candidate.

Burnham is expected to be announced as the new party leader next week and could be Prime Minister on July 20.

The employee: Burnham has been planning this for a year

Andy Burnham is the only candidate when the Labour Party is to choose a new leader after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

According to Burnham's close colleague Louise Haigh, he has been preparing for a takeover for about a year. She says this in the BBC podcast "Political thinking with Nick Robinson".

The plans gained momentum after Labour's disastrous local and regional elections earlier this year. According to Haigh, Burnham then realised that the party could not continue on the same path.

However, Burnham has been away from national politics for nine years and instead served as mayor of Manchester, until he returned to Westminster after winning the by-election in Makerfield. Haigh therefore dismisses the idea that he lacks experience.

- He has spent that time thinking deeply about how the country is governed and what is holding back regions like Manchester, she says.

Starmer: Burnham will make a good prime minister

The nomination process to appoint Keir Starmer's successor as Labour leader has formally begun, reports The Independent.

Manchester's former mayor Andy Burnham is, however, the only one who has announced that he is running. This means that he is expected to be elected as the new party leader without any obstacles - and thus also become the UK's next prime minister.

Keir Starmer believes Burnham will be a good fit for the role. When asked if he is the right person, the Prime Minister replied curtly:

– Yes.

When Starmer was then asked if Burnham would be a better Prime Minister than himself, he replied:

– That is something for others to decide.