Burnham allies confident of No 10 ‘coronation’ after surge in backers

Andy Burnham's allies are expressing growing confidence in a seamless transition to leadership, often described as a "coronation," following a significant increase in parliamentary support after his recent byelection victory. Burnham and his campaign team have reportedly been actively securing commitments from Members of Parliament (MPs) and ministers in recent days. This surge in backing comes as Burnham prepares to formally challenge Keir Starmer for the Labour Party leadership in the upcoming weeks. Despite the momentum, some Labour MPs still advocate for a contested leadership election to thoroughly examine and debate policy ideas. The article notes that Burnham's campaign has been working to consolidate support, aiming to present a strong front ahead of any formal leadership challenge.