Chris Mason
Political editor

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

Westminster is a postcode whose currency is power. Today power shifted – and quickly.

Two key moments led to one key likely outcome.

First, Keir Starmer’s resignation - much anticipated, and not a novelty given the prime ministerial churn of recent years.

But don’t underestimate how profound these moments are politically and personally – Starmer's voice cracking, his wife’s lip trembling.

The next big moment was not Andy Burnham’s much filmed odyssey from Manchester to London, but the former Health Secretary Wes Streeting throwing his lot in with Burnham.

Streeting was astute enough to sense the political momentum swinging so decisively behind Burnham.

Photographs of the former mayor of Greater Manchester surrounded by hundreds of Labour MPs – the Chancellor Rachel Reeves and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner among them – illustrate that shift in power and influence.

It’s not impossible someone chooses to take on Burnham but it is increasingly likely he is prime minister in just a matter of weeks - our fifth Prime Minister in the past four years.

Image source, PA Media

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent, at Westminster

I’ve been in Parliament this afternoon speaking to MPs about what comes next.

It's a struggle to find anyone who doesn’t think Andy Burnham will be the next prime minister.

His momentum seems almost unstoppable now.

There are definitely questions being asked about what exactly he’ll do differently but Labour MPs seem to have concluded he’s their best hope now.

It’s not impossible that someone throws their hat into the ring to try and shake things up a bit and road test Burnham’s policies.

But pretty much everyone here is preparing for Burnham to be in No 10 in a few weeks time.

Image source, PA Media

Al Carns, who quit as armed forces minister on 11 June, has called for the next Labour leader to "govern differently so that Britain becomes stronger on every front at once".

Writing for Labour List, external, he sets out the approach he says the next prime minister will need, including the ability to "build a plan, test it, and then commit like your life depends on it".

The former soldier also puts forward policies including a "youth triple lock" comprised of a guaranteed offer of employment, education or training, a financial scheme that "turns student loan repayments into a housing deposit", and free transport for under-25s.

Carns has been touted as having leadership ambitions and has not endorsed Andy Burnham publicly.

However, he does not explicitly say he intends to stand in a leadership contest himself in his latest intervention.

Image source, PA Media

World leaders have been reacting to Keir Starmer's resignation, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who thanks the outgoing prime minister for his support and "always striving to do what is needed and what will truly help".

Canada'sPrime Minister Mark Carney says: "The world is safer and allies are more united because of his [Starmer's] efforts."

France's President Emmanuel Macron thanks him for "strengthening the Franco-British relationship, his commitment within the coalition of volunteers for Ukraine, as well as to the revival of the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union".

Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin says Starmer "has worked with us to set a new direction and depth in the relationship between Ireland and the UK, for the benefit of all our citizens, north-south and east-west".

Joe Pike
Political correspondent

The prime minister and his wife are hosting an event in No 10 tonight to say thank you to staff and supporters from the past two years.

Image source, Reuters

A summit between the UK and the EU which was due to take place in Brussels on 22 July is to be postponed after Keir Starmer's resignation.

Starmer was due to meet senior EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa for talks on food, energy and a youth mobility scheme - building on a so-called reset in UK-EU relations which the outgoing prime minister signed last year.

Starmer saw pushing for closer EU ties as central to his efforts to revive his premiership and boost growth, focusing on the issue in a major speech he gave in the wake of Labour's disastrous local election results.

But Costa said on Monday: “Now for sure we need to postpone it, but we are reassessing the opportunity of this new summit.

“But my wish is that his successor could give continuity on this good path to reset our relationship with the United Kingdom.”

Meanwhile in the Commons, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has been giving an update on last week's G7 summit - a statement which, in ordinary times, would have been delivered by Keir Starmer.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch questions why Lammy has been sent to update MPs on a meeting he did not attend.

Where is the prime minister, she asks - adding that Starmer "says he needs to stay in post for three months but then doesn't come to Parliament to do his job".

Badenoch also criticises Andy Burnham for not attending the debate.

Sarah Smith
North America editor

Image source, Reuters

It’s hard to imagine two men more different in their politics and personalities than Donald Trump and Keir Starmer.

But for over a year, Starmer became known as the “Trump whisperer”. By deploying flattery and avoiding public disagreements he was able to secure an early trade deal for the UK.

In his post last night predicting Starmer’s resignation hours before it was announced, Trump blamed Starmer's “failure” on his immigration and energy policies - two issues on which they totally disagree.

Trump told me in April that if Starmer opened the North Sea to oil and gas extraction and strengthened his immigration policies, then he "can recover” - but added: "If he doesn’t, I don't think he has a chance."

Trump will be carefully watching what Starmer’s successor does with the Defence Investment Plan. That could be crucial for what kind of relationship the next prime minister has with Trump.

The irretrievable breakdown in the Trump-Starmer relationship came over the war in Iran. Starmer's initial refusal to allow US forces to use UK air bases was considered unforgivable in the White House.

Trump will always maintain a special affection for the UK, based partly on his mother’s Scottish roots and his fascination with the Royal Family.

But his dealings with the British government and the next prime minister will be based only partly on their personal dynamic - and mostly on whether he is getting he wants.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey says "changing the person at the top" will not fix the UK's "broken political system", and the electorate are "pretty fed up with the merry-go-round of prime ministers".

Davey says rebuilding relations with Europe, growing the economy and reforming social care need to be the priorities for the next prime minister - and on the man most likely to get that job, he says "let's reserve our judgement on Mr Burnham".

Image source, PA M

Hamza, 16, from Preston says: "Keir Starmer's policies were decent and I, as a student, have benefited from them, but I believe he has a weak charisma and fails to appeal to the public.

"I believe a man like Andy Burnham has the charisma and reputation to deliver to the public."

Flynn, 18, from Swindon says there "needs to be" a general election following Starmer's resignation, and adds "[Burnham] was elected by only around 77,000 people within the Makerfield constituency... he will have no country-wide mandate to govern".

Entian, 21, from Bath says he will be "sorry to see Starmer go" but says the "constant U-turning has been infuriating".

"I respect Starmer’s integrity but I do think without a change Labour would drown in the next election," Entian adds.

Hadrian, 29, from Leicester says Burnham "has to call an election" after "Labour spent years calling for the Tories" to do the same.

Image source, UK Parliament/PA

The atmosphere in the Commons was anything but stuffy as Andy Burnham was noisily sworn in a short while ago.

The new MP for Makerfield was gently mocked by opposition MPs as he entered the Commons, including shouts of "Rome is saved", "he's not the Messiah" and "water into wine".

He seemed to take it well, at one point referencing Monty Python's Life of Brian by quipping "I'm just a naughty boy" back at an MP.

Burnham was then pulled in for a lengthy handshake by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent, at Westminster

Image source, Getty Images

If there is any doubt that this leadership election is over before it has begun, the whoops and cheers with which around 200 Labour MPs greeted Andy Burnham as he arrived for a photo with them just now ought to expunge it.

Burnham got out his phone and took a selfie with the crowd, straining to fit them all into one screen.

Within weeks it may fall to him to fit them all into a cohesive government and political project.

Image source, Getty Images

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent, at Westminster

I’m in Westminster Hall, where MPs are assembling to have their photo taken with Andy Burnham.

This is standard practice with any by-election winner - but this feels anything but standard.

The mood is beyond celebratory.

It’s impossible to separate the fact of this photo from what so many Labour MPs now see as Burnham’s inevitable move into No 10.

And it is notable to see so many senior figures from Keir Starmer’s government among those who got here earliest for a prime spot.

Among Starmer’s close cabinet allies who are in prominent positions for this photo are Rachel Reeves and Jonathan Reynolds, the chief whip — both front and centre — as well as Steve Reed and Nick Thomas-Symonds.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, PA Media

We've also been hearing from Wes Streeting, the former health secretary who confirmed earlier today he would shelve his leadership bid and back Andy Burnham.

He praises Burnham's ability to win in Makerfield, which had "overwhelmingly rejected Labour" in the local elections in May.

Streeting says that result shows that "if Labour changes, we can still win", adding: "I think Andy is the person to lead us to do that."

He says Burnham "has got [his] full backing" and is capable of delivering the mandate Labour was elected on.

Asked if he had been promised a role in a future Burnham government in return for his support, Streeting says: "He has not offered me any jobs. That's not what our conversations have been about. This has been about ideas."

Image source, House of Commons

Andy Burnham is met by huge cheers from the Labour benches as he steps into a crowded House of Commons.

He takes the oath, following new SNP MP Lara Bird and the new Conservative MP Douglas Lumsden.

He bows his head several times as he makes his way through the chamber, and grins as he is greeted by supportive MPs.

Burnham then has a friendly exchange with the Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle as he formally becomes the Makerfield MP.

Image source, House of Commons

Image source, Reuters

Andy Burnham has just arrived in Westminster, where he will be formally sworn in as an MP.

You will be able to watch that moment in the Commons at the top of this page soon - and in the meantime, we'll continue to bring you the latest reaction and analysis to today's dramatic developments.

We're expecting a swearing in ceremony for new MPs to take place at around 14:30 BST in the House of Commons, which you will be able to watch at the top of the page.

Andy Burnham, the new MP for Makerfield, will be among the three MPs sworn in today, alongside Douglas Lumsden, who won a by-election in Aberdeen South, and Lara Bird - who held Arbroath and Broughty Ferry for the SNP.

New members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords take an oath of allegiance to the Crown before taking their seats in Parliament.

MPs either swear in using a religious text or take a non-religious, solemn affirmation.

Image source, PA Media

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has repeated his call for an early general election, comparing Westminster to "Italian-style farce politics".

He says "whoever becomes the prime minister will not have been voted for by the British public", and adds that Andy Burnham did not stand at the last general election on Labour's manifesto.

Farage adds: "I really do think that my call for there to be a general election as soon as is possible - I think you'll find a lot of support for that."

Katie Thompson and Navtej Johal
Reporting from West Bromwich town centre

Sandwell Council flipped from Labour to Reform in last month's local elections, ending the party’s 47-year spell in control.

This is the kind of place the new prime minister will need to win at the next election in order for Labour to stay in power.

The response to Keir Starmer's resignation has been largely positive in West Bromwich town centre, with the majority of people saying it’s overdue.

Dave Holmes says it was right for Starmer to go, adding it was his U-turn on the winter fuel allowance that did it for him.

“About time. He’s useless. He says one thing then changes his mind,” he says, adding: “He’s bad, I don’t like him. I've not seen much integrity from him. But it’s not good to keep changing the prime minister. Let them have their five years."

Mandy Wood, 71, says it's “brilliant” news, and adds: “But nothing is going to change. I don’t like Labour, I don’t like Keir Starmer. His policies, he’s just turn around, turn around all the while.”

Sara Guest says: “We need a total change of government. He’s a weak leader but I don’t think Andy Bunham is going to be any better to be fair. In some ways we think he’s going to be worse, as he’s even more to the left than Keir Starmer is.”

Image source, ITN Pool

We've now heard more from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch on today's developments. She says: "There are critical decisions that need to be made and the prime minister is setting out his farewell tour while Andy Burnham wants a summer holiday.

"It is really, really important that we ensure the country is being governed."

She adds that "whatever happens now we need to make sure that national security is the number one agenda", but that the next Labour leader will "still have the same problem - those Labour backbenchers who are not interested in defence and refuse to bring down the welfare bill".