Andy Burnham is on track to become Prime Minister before the end of the month.
The former mayor of Manchester declared his intention to stand for the Labour leadership shortly after Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation in an emotional Downing Street speech on Monday, June 22.
He is the only declared candidate for the Labour leadership so far ahead of nominations opening on Thursday and appears set to succeed Sir Keir later this month.
Here’s how it will happen:
Nominations for a new Labour leader open on July 9.
Between then and July 16, potential candidates must collect the backing of at least 81 MPs and three nominations from affiliated bodies such as trade unions.
Mr Burnham is so far the only person to confirm he will stand. Wes Streeting was due to be his main challenger.
But the former health secretary has now declared he will not run and is supporting Mr Burnham. He is expected to be offered a prominent role in the next cabinet.
Sir Keir would have automatically been placed on the ballot if he had not confirmed he was stepping down.
If there are no challengers and Mr Burnham reaches the threshold of supporters needed, he will be declared the new leader of the Labour Party at a special conference on July 17 before being appointed Prime Minister by the King, likely on Monday, July 20.
Sir Keir and Mr Burnham met for the first time since the Makerfield byelection at the end of June to thrash out a transition of power.
The PM reportedly agreed to the former Mayor of Manchester having talks with the civil service to ensure a smooth process.
Mr Burnham's team has suggested they would have liked a longer changeover of power in September.
But if there is no leadership contest, Mr Burnham could walk through the door of Number 10 as soon as July 20.
Mr Burnham’s team has insisted he will hit the ground running when he enters Downing Street and will set up a No 10 in the North.
This will result in a “very powerful reorganisation of government”, deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell insisted.
Ms Powell, a Manchester MP, said there would be a “horses for courses” approach to devolution.
She told Sky News: “We have a particular economy here that began in computing and digital, for example. We’ve got a real knowledge economy here, advanced manufacturing as part of that too.
“Other places have got an economy that maybe is built around nuclear power or shipbuilding or renewable energy or an economy built around a university or different things.
“So it’s not a one size fits all and that’s the whole point about putting place first and giving places the power to to set out their own long-term vision of their area and bring in the investment that’s needed to deliver that.”
She added: “This is this is about taking power from Whitehall to distribute it around the country, and this will be a very powerful reorganisation of government in order to deliver that lifeblood back into every community and every postcode across the country.”
