26/06/2026 01:04 - Internacionales
British politics is preparing for a historic shift. Following Keir Starmer's announcement to step down after two years in government, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party has established a timeline that could place Andy Burnham at 10 Downing Street on Friday, July 17, 2026.
The process, designed to minimize uncertainty, establishes that nominations will open within two weeks. If only one candidate manages to secure the support of 20% of Labour MPs (PLP), equivalent to 81 signatures, they would automatically become party leader and, consequently, Prime Minister, without the need for an extended general vote.
Andy Burnham has served as Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017, building a strong regional profile. Keir Starmer led Labour to victory in the 2024 general election, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. The UK system allows the governing party to change leaders without a general election, meaning the new Labour leader becomes Prime Minister directly.
The outgoing Prime Minister stated he will leave the country in a "better position" than he found it. Speaking from Milton Keynes, Starmer assured his priority is to guarantee a professional transition: "I will continue to serve my country faithfully to ensure any disruption is absolutely minimized."
According to a YouGov poll, Burnham would hold a significant advantage over Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on who would make the "best Prime Minister." The margin would be double what Starmer held, suggesting strong initial momentum for the former Manchester mayor.
Not everything is smooth sailing for Burnham. Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, has warned that prospects for cooperation are "souring" due to positions taken by the likely new leader. Polanski highlighted as conflict points Burnham's refusal to recognize the situation in Gaza as genocide and uncertainty about his environmental policies.
Meanwhile, from the opposition, Robert Jenrick (Reform UK) defended Nigel Farage when questioned about an undeclared donation of £5 million, stating that while it's a legitimate question for media, "people on the street don't care."
Source: The Guardian
Alfredo S. Quiroga
