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The Independent UK

Rhiannon James

Could Andy Burnham become prime minister? Five steps to replace Starmer

Andy Burnham Sir Keir Starmer NEC Clive Lewis Manchester BBC Breakfast Labour Party SNP United Kingdom

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is being touted as a leading contender to replace Sir Keir Starmer if he resigns as Prime Minister.

Mr Burnham has previously indicated he would be willing to overthrow the current Labour leader. At last year’s Labour Party conference, he called for a “debate on our direction”, and in November, he refused to rule out a leadership bid, telling BBC Breakfast: “I don’t know what the future will hold.”

However, as the current mayor of Manchester without a seat in Parliament, Mr Burnham faces a potentially arduous route to the top.

These are the steps he would have to take before becoming the UK’s next prime minister.

Vacant seat

Firstly, a vacant parliamentary seat would need to be available and finding one may not be an easy task.

There are two by-elections coming up in Scotland, after both SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn (Aberdeen South) and SNP MP Stephen Gethins (Arbroath and Broughty Ferry) were elected to Holyrood. Mr Burnham is unlikely to stand in either of these Scottish seats.

In November 2025, Clive Lewis, the Labour MP for Norwich South, indicated he would step down for Mr Burnham.

Backbench MP Clive Lewis said he would give up his seat for Andy Burnham (PA)

He told BBC’s Politics Live at the time: “If I’m going to sit here and say country before party, party before personal ambition, then yes, I have to say yes, don’t I?”

However, he has since distanced himself, describing such plans as “total hallucinatory Jackanory” on X.

One of Mr Burnham’s top backers, Paula Barker, Labour MP for Liverpool, told BBC Breakfast “no” on Monday after she was asked if she would stand down to make way for him.

Marie Rimmer, Labour MP for St Helens South and Whiston, told the Guardian she is “not planning to stand down for anybody” after her seat was reportedly eyed by Mr Burnham’s allies.

Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee

If a seat were to become vacant, Mr Burnham would need to win over the National Executive Committee (NEC), who is responsible for choosing Labour’s candidates.

In January this year, the NEC blocked Mr Burnham from running in Gorton and Denton.

A 10-strong group, including the prime minister, voted to deny Mr Burnham permission to stand in the Greater Manchester by-election.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham would need to win over the National Executive Committee (NEC) (PA)

Sir Keir justified the move, arguing “an election for the Mayor of Manchester when it’s not necessary would divert our resources away from the elections that we must have”.

The prime minister faced criticism over this decision, particularly after Green Party MP Hannah Spencer came out on top in the competition.

Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell, the only member of the NEC to vote in favour of allowing Mr Burnham to stand, said he “probably would have” held the seat.

Leadership ballot

If Mr Burnham were to be elected to Parliament, only then could he make a Labour leadership bid.

According to the Labour Party rule book, candidates seeking to enter the ballot must be an MP.

This is because the Labour leader is the prime minister, therefore they would need to be a Member of Parliament.

The current rules state a candidate must receive nominations from 20 per cent of their Labour colleagues in Parliament to be in the running.

They must also receive nominations from 5 per cent of constituency Labour Parties (CLPs), or at least three affiliates of the party, with at least two being trade unions.