BREAKING: Andy Burnham to be topped Labour chief after successful help of a whole lot of MPs

Andy Burnham, who returned to Parliament last month after nine years as Greater Manchester Mayor, will officially be announced as Labour’s next leader on Friday during a special conference.

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Andy Burnham will be crowned Labour’s next leader later this week after winning the backing of enough MPs to eliminate the possibility of a challenge.

The former Greater Manchester Mayor, who is now certain to succeed Keir Starmer in No10 next week, secured the support of 349 MPs at the close of nominations on Monday evening. This comes after he received an extra 27 nominations today.

It means it is now mathematically impossible for any wannabe rival in the Labour ranks to reach the 81 MP threshold required to throw their hat into the ring.

Mr Burnham, who returned to Parliament last month after nine years as Greater Manchester Mayor, will officially be announced as Labour’s next leader on Friday during a special conference. Around 72 hours later on July 20, the Makerfield MP will walk up Downing Street for the first time as PM.

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On Monday evening Labour MPs were also set to quiz Mr Burnham on his plans for government during a virtual hustings event organised by the party.

Mr Burnham will tell the Parliamentary party that now is a time to come together – saying his priorities are good growth in every postcode, more power in communities, and putting the cost of living front and centre in the work of the government.

This will provide “breathing space”, the PM-in-waiting will say. He is also set to pay tribute to Keir Starmer for delivering on his promise to the Hillsborough families by introducing a Hillsborough Law in his final days in No10.

The Makerfield MP has said he will aim to create a culture where every MP is valued, seen and listened to – an issue that has dogged Mr Starmer. He will tell MPs that now is a “significant moment” for the country – with constituents counting on Labour to come together.

Mr Burnham will also describe the party as a broad church – vowing to reflect this in his appointments. It comes as Keir Starmer kicked off his last week in Downing Street with a diplomatic blitze, joining European allies of Ukraine’s wartime leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a meeting of the ‘coalition of the willing’.

He is also expected to join Bastille Day events in Paris on Tuesday before taking his final Prime Minister’s Questions – just over two years on since Labour’s landslide election victory.

Earlier this week Rachel Reeves – who is expected to be replaced as Chancellor – warned Mr Burnham that he must remain “last focused” on what he wants to achieve in power.

She told the BBC: “It is important that when Andy walks through that door, that he has a worked-through plan, because governing is hard in Britain, and lots of lots of challenges and shocks will come his way.

“What is really important is that him and his team are really clear about what they want to achieve. As those shocks come along, he needs to stay laser focused on those things that have always motivated him, have always driven him, and are the reason why he wants to lead our great country.”