Two Labour lawmakers are considering challenging Andy Burnham to become Britain's next prime minister, amid concerns within the party about a potential coronation. Burnham, 56, is the overwhelming frontrunner to succeed outgoing leader Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation on Monday after losing the support of his own MPs.
Burnham's Eligibility and Timeline
Burnham became eligible for the top job only after winning a parliamentary by-election last week. If unchallenged, he could be in 10 Downing Street by July 17. However, some MPs insist that a contest would add legitimacy to his premiership, given that he would become prime minister without winning a general election.
Former armed forces minister Al Carns told an event on Tuesday that he wanted to hear Burnham's 'vision' for the country before deciding whether to stand. 'We'll see where we go from there,' he added.
Potential Challengers and Support
UK media reported that government minister Darren Jones is being encouraged to run by some MPs. A person close to Jones told AFP that Jones is keeping his options open until Burnham lays out more detailed plans for government, particularly on the economy, but considers a run 'very unlikely'.
Government minister Nick Thomas-Symonds echoed the views of many Labour lawmakers on Tuesday, telling Sky News that a 'swift transition' is in 'the best interests of the country'. A contest would last several weeks and could be bitterly divisive.
Calls for Scrutiny and Unity
Labour MP John Slinger, a Starmer loyalist, told BBC radio that the public would think 'we'd slightly lost our minds if we didn't go through a process where we subject people who aspire to the highest office in the land to completely normal scrutiny'. Fellow backbencher Nadia Whittome also called for a contest, telling the BBC that 'candidates setting out their stall transparently' would make Labour and the government 'stronger'.
Burnham's path to No. 10 looks clear after his nearest rival, Wes Streeting, announced on Monday he would not challenge the ex-Manchester mayor. Any challenger would likely find it difficult to secure the support of 81 of Labour's 403 MPs needed to join the race. 'Andy has such a head of steam it would be Quixotic,' one Labour MP, who asked not to be named, told AFP, adding that a contest would be 'hugely expensive and time-consuming'. 'We need unity now,' he said.
