Burnham sworn in as Makerfield MP as Starmer exits Downing Street

Andy Burnham has been formally sworn in as the Member of Parliament for Makerfield, marking the commencement of the Labour Party’s leadership contest following Keir Starmer’s resignation as Prime Minister. Starmer, who served two years after his party’s historic election victory, confirmed that a new leader will be appointed before Parliament reconvenes in September. Deputy Leader Wes Streeting has publicly endorsed Burnham as his successor, positioning him as the frontrunner in the internal race.

Public sentiment appears to favour the leadership change, with new YouGov polling indicating that 62 per cent of Britons believe Starmer was right to quit. Support for the resignation was also strong among the party’s base, with 52 per cent of 2024 Labour voters agreeing with the move. However, performance ratings remain mixed; while 33 per cent of Labour voters rated Starmer’s tenure as good or great, 21 per cent of the general public described his performance as poor, and 29 per cent as terrible.

The prospect of Burnham taking the helm has drawn sharp criticism from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who dismissed the former mayor as a “washed-up has-been” and a “professional politician.” Despite this rhetoric, electoral modelling suggests a leadership change could alter the political landscape significantly. JL Partners polling indicates that while Reform UK would lead by 18 points if Starmer remained leader, a Burnham leadership would see Labour win by two points, though these figures reflect expected election outcomes rather than direct voting intention.

In his final days at Downing Street, Starmer delivered a private address to staff, acknowledging their “super-human effort” and thanking those who cared for his family. He highlighted key achievements during his premiership, including reduced NHS waiting lists and the lifting of half a million children out of poverty. These points were echoed in broader assessments of his record, which advocates say include progressive workers’ rights and a stabilised foreign policy stance regarding Ukraine and the United States.

Opposition criticism remains focused on national security and defence. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of failing on defence funding and energy security, while also targeting Burnham’s absence from the recent G7 summit. Badenoch argued that a Burnham premiership would inherit a weakened defence posture and a depleted treasury. In response, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy defended the outgoing government’s record, stating that Starmer left the UK “stronger and fairer.” Amidst the transition, Lucy Powell is expected to retain her position as Deputy Leader, as her role is elected and cannot be dismissed by the incoming leader.