Burnham poised for PM role as Starmer seeks orderly Labour transition

Sir Keir Starmer met Andy Burnham to discuss an orderly transition after announcing his resignation as prime minister. Access talks with civil servants will be opened to Labour leadership hopefuls to prepare for government, with Burnham the only declared contender and potentially able to take office as early as 17 July if unchallenged. The discussions will cover forming a government, policy priorities, and security briefings, while Starmer suspends major policy decisions until a new PM is in place. Burnham has pledged to follow Labour’s fiscal rules and not raise core tax rates; other potential candidates are being considered by some MPs.