Andy Burnham Labour leadership has reached the point where no rival can be nominated after he secured the backing of 349 Labour MPs. He still needs three organisations affiliated to the Labour Party, at least two of them trade unions, before the process is complete.
Westminster support
Burnham received support from a further 27 Labour MPs after a second day of nominations, taking him to 349. Under Labour's rules, candidates need 20% of the party's MPs, or 81 out of 403, to nominate them, and his total now leaves no route for another candidate to stand against him.
Burnham returned to Westminster three weeks ago after his historic by-election win in Makerfield. He had already received 322 MPs on the first day of nominations, then added the extra backing that put him beyond reach.
Labour rules
Burnham's path does not end with MPs. He still requires the backing of three organisations affiliated to the Labour Party, and at least two must be trade unions. That step remains before the leadership result is completed, even though no rival can now be nominated.
He will field questions from Labour MPs as the only participant in an online hustings on Monday evening. Burnham said support for him had come from across the party and reflected a shared belief that Britain needs a new approach to politics.
Burnham's route to No 10
Burnham said, "That is the circuit breaker I am offering: power out of Westminster, an economy rewired for ordinary people, and good growth in every postcode." His route to No 10 will not require a vote over the summer among party members and affiliated trade union supporters.
The timeline around his rise runs through 2010 and 2015, when he ran for Labour leader and lost to Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn. He left Westminster in 2017 to run for the Greater Manchester mayoralty, was elected three times as Greater Manchester mayor, and returned after his by-election win in Makerfield.
