Andy Burnham named Labour chief whereas Keir Starmer booted from No. 10 as removing van turns up

Keir Starmer has been booted from No. 10 Downing Street as removals vans were seen turning up on Friday morning and into the afternoon.

Future PM Andy Burnham addressed the nation today as he was crowned leader of the Labour Party. The Makerfield MP appeared at the Party’s special conference, where he was officially named as the party’s new leader. He will be crowned Prime Minister on Monday, but today he gave a speech that’s set to detail what Britain is to expect from him as leader.

Burnham said he would bring a return of Labour that people once knew. He said people had “waited too long to feel hope within politics again”. “I am ready,” he said as he paid tribute to Starmer who said helped laid these Labour foundations.

“Today we thank Keir for his service to his country and his party,” Burnham announced. “This is a proud moment you have given me and my family today, and an emotional one, but it is one for which I am ready.

“I am ready, ready to lead and to build on the foundation laid by one person more than any other. Under Keir Starmer’s leadership, we went from our worst defeat to one of the best victories in our history.

“Keir put Labour back in a position to change people’s lives, and that is what we have been doing these last two years.” Burnham was the only candidate to get the required support to replace Sir Keir as party leader after his resignation.

He was backed by 379 of the party’s 403 MPs, far surpassing the 81 needed, and secured the support of eight of the 11 unions affiliated with the party.

The special conference is expected to be opened by Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell at noon, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to announce the results in her role as chairwoman of the party’s ruling National Executive Committee before Mr Burnham’s victory speech.

Mr Burnham steps into the job at a time when his party has trailed Reform UK in opinion polls for nearly 18 months and Labour will be hoping his presence will spark a bounce and turn around its fortunes.

Sir Keir has said he believes Labour can win the next election under Mr Burnham, and that he is “proud to hand over the party in good shape” to his successor.

He will officially depart as Prime Minister on Monday, though removal vans were seen starting to arrive outside Downing Street on Friday morning.