Andy Burnham Confirmed for PM Role as Labour Accepts Him as Leader
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Andy Burnham confirmed as Labour leader, ending speculation over chancellor role and preparing to become Britain's next prime minister next week.
By Pranjal Gupta
New Delhi, July 17: Andy Burnham has been confirmed as the new leader of the UK's governing Labour Party, despite facing a backlash over claims of supporting Shabana Mahmood or Ed Miliband for chancellor's role. While Mahmood may still be chosen for the role, she made the announcement of Burham's victory at a special party conference in London on Friday.
Burnham is now set to become the UK's next prime minister and will take charge at 10 Downing Street next week. Shabana Mahmood, chair of Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC), said, "There was only one nominated MP... hardly a nail-biter".
On Monday, Burnham will be invited by King Charles III to form a new government after outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer formally submits his resignation to the monarch.
Mayor to PM
Burnham left Westminster a decade ago after spending nearly 20 years climbing the Labour ranks. He became Mayor of Greater Manchester in 2017 and built a strong regional profile. Last month, he returned to Parliament after winning a high-stakes by-election.
On Monday, the 56-year-old will become Britain's 59th prime minister following the unexpected fall of Keir Starmer's government after just two years in office. Although Burnham enters Downing Street with strong public expectations, many believe he still has to prove himself at the national level.
"A whole range of people across the Labour movement and the country have projected their hopes onto Andy Burnham. They see him as someone who can reshape both the country and the Labour Party," said Joshi Herrmann, founder of Manchester news website The Mill, who has covered Burnham for years.
Who is Shabana Mahmood?
In recent weeks, Mahmood had been seen as a possible contender for the role of chancellor. However, some critics within the party questioned her economic credentials, while others argued that Ed Miliband could become a target for criticism if appointed, according to UK media reports.
Mahmood has previously supported a higher rate of income tax for top earners. During a House of Commons debate in 2014, she said it was wrong for the Conservative government to reduce the top rate of income tax from 50 per cent to 45 per cent. Under the current system, the 45 per cent rate applies to taxable earnings above £125,140.
