Andy Burnham has taken another step towards becoming the next Labour leader and prime minister, after the vast majority of Labour MPs nominated him to replace Sir Keir Starmer, the BBC reports
Burnham’s Labour leadership bid has been backed by 322 Labour MPs as he remains the only declared candidate after nominations began on Thursday.
It makes him just one short of the 323 needed before it is mathematically impossible for a rival to run against him. Some MPs say they were not able to vote on Thursday but will back Burnham once they are back in Parliament.
If no one else enters the contest, as expected, Burnham will be declared Labour leader next week before taking office as prime minister on 20 July.
