Andy Burnham moved closer to becoming Britain's next prime minister without a contest on Wednesday, as a potential rival, Cabinet minister Darren Jones, announced he would not seek the leadership of the governing Labour Party.
Keir Starmer, who plans to resign within weeks, faces a final Prime Minister's Questions session in Parliament before traveling to Berlin for talks with European allies concerning Ukraine and the Middle East. Starmer announced his intention to step down on Monday.
Jones, an ally of Starmer, had been encouraged by some to run to ensure Burnham's platform underwent scrutiny. However, others argued a leadership contest would exacerbate the party's internal divisions and prolong political uncertainty. Jones stated in an interview with Sky News that leadership is "not something that I’m going to do."
Despite withdrawing from a potential run, Jones cautioned Burnham against significant shifts toward the left in economic policy, a point of concern for some in the business community. He emphasized the need for Starmer's successor as Treasury chief to be someone "that can reassure the markets, reassure the trade unions and reassure the parliamentary Labour Party, and by extension the public."
Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017 and a former Cabinet minister, secured a parliamentary seat last week with the stated intention of challenging Starmer. He has yet to face any challengers. Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who had been considered his primary opponent, has declared his support for Burnham.
Nominations for the Labour leadership are scheduled to open on July 9 and close a week later. If Burnham remains the sole candidate, he could assume the role of prime minister by July 17. In the event of a contest, a winner is expected to be in place by the time Parliament reconvenes after its summer recess on September 1.
Starmer informed his Cabinet on Tuesday that he would work towards an "orderly transition" to his successor. He is maintaining a busy schedule, aiming to solidify his legacy during his shortened term, though he is barred from making new major policy announcements or spending commitments.
Starmer's visit to Berlin for a meeting of the "E5" – Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and the U.K. – to discuss European defense, the war in Ukraine, and the conflict in the Middle East, highlights his international engagement. His handling of foreign policy, particularly in supporting Ukraine and addressing the fallout from the Iran war, has been noted as more assured than his domestic performance.
The British government is expected to release a long-anticipated defense investment plan, which prompted the resignation of Defense Secretary John Healey on June 11, prior to a NATO summit in Turkey on July 7 and 8. Starmer is likely to attend this summit.