Keir Starmer has agreed to talks with potential successors now “immediately,” after his resignation was announced on Monday. Outgoing Prime Minister has promised his Cabinet that he is totally committed to a smooth leadership transition.

Starmer’s pledge to back up his successor came in a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. He served for almost two years in the role but decided to relinquish it for fresh leadership.

The veteran politician Andy Burnham has been quickly emerging as the favourite son/daim to take over. The former mayor of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority is now eligible for the top job, having won a parliamentary by-election last Thursday.

Burnham was greeted with immense applause from some 200 colleagues at the UK Parliament at his swearing-in ceremony following nine years of leaving Westminster. His team is said to be meeting a number of top Civil Service officials ahead of the formal nomination process, which starts on July 9, in preparation for a possible success.

The Debate Over a Leadership Contest

Nominations are open until July 16, so Burnham could become president on July 17 if he is unopposed. As his rival Wes Streeting has ruled himself out, his pathway to Number 10 seems rather straight.

There are some within The Labour Party who want a quick and seamless move to ensure national stability, while others think that a formal contest should be held. Some backbenchers say that the new premier will be granted much legitimacy through the eyes of the public and transparency because he or she will not have been elected in a general election.

But former armed forces minister Al Carns and government minister Darren Jones are considering whether to challenge him. Both have said they are waiting to hear Burnham’s next plans and policies for policy and economy next week before making final decisions.

All these rumblings aside, forcing a contest will be mathematically challenging. A challenger would require 81 of the 403 MPs to get into the race. Many members of the party see a long leadership contest as a costly and time-consuming distraction, and are far more inclined to support unity around Burnham.