Starmer meets Burnham to discuss transition and access talks for prospective Labour leaders

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met Labour leadership hopeful Andy Burnham on Tuesday to discuss an orderly hand-over of power after Starmer announced his intention to resign. The hour-long meeting, the first between the two since Burnham won the Makerfield by-election, coincided with Starmer’s decision to grant "access talks" with civil servants to any candidate who may contest the Labour leadership.

The government’s spokesperson said the briefings, which will cover the formation of a new administration, key policy priorities and security matters, will start "as soon as possible" and will be completed before the formal nomination deadline on 16 July.

Burnham is currently the sole declared candidate and could become prime minister as early as 17 July if no challenger emerges. He has not yet presented a detailed policy programme or named prospective cabinet members, including a chancellor.

Starmer indicated that he will suspend major policy and spending decisions until a successor is in place and will work to resolve outstanding issues in the coming weeks to facilitate a smooth transition. Burnham, who returned to Parliament after the by-election, has pledged to adhere to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ fiscal rules and Labour’s manifesto commitments not to raise the main rates of income tax, VAT or National Insurance.

Potential alternative candidates, such as cabinet minister Darren Jones and former armed forces minister Al Carns, are being discussed by some Labour MPs, though it remains uncertain whether they will gather sufficient support to appear on the ballot.