Summary

  • The prime minister's chief secretary, Darren Jones, says he won't challenge Andy Burnham for the Labour Party leadership

  • Jones was understood to be considering a bid to replace Keir Starmer - he now tells Sky News that "Andy Burnham is going to be the next prime minister"

  • Jones asks: "What would the benefit be to the country and to the party of a leadership contest?"

  • Meanwhile, the BBC understands Burnham would replace Rachel Reeves as chancellor if he becomes PM

  • Nominations for the next Labour leader open on 9 July - if there is no contest, Burnham could become PM by 16 or 17 July

  • Later, Keir Starmer will face Prime Minister's Questions for the first time since announcing his resignation - you'll be able to watch live on this page

Live Reporting

Edited by Owen Amos and Adam Goldsmith

  1. Burnham likely to replace Reeves if he becomes PM

    Harry Farley
    Political correspondent

    Rachel ReevesReuters

    The BBC understands that if Andy Burnham becomes prime minister, he is expected to replace Rachel Reeves as chancellor and offer her a more junior cabinet position.

    Most Labour MPs assume Reeves will not continue in that role but, as first reported by the Financial Times, she is expected to be offered a more junior cabinet position.

    A close ally of Burnham told the BBC: "Andy really respects Rachel and I'm confident he'll want her in his top team."

    A spokesperson for Burnham said no decisions had been made.

    Meanwhile, James Purnell - who served as a minister in Gordon Brown's government between 2007 and 2009 - is expected to be appointed Burnham's Downing Street chief of staff.

    As well as working under Labour governments, Purnell has worked at the BBC in various roles including head of corporate planning and, more recently, director of radio and education. He left the corporation in 2020.

  2. Jones had 'reassuring conversation' with Burnham about economic policy

    Henry Zeffman
    Chief political correspondent

    Darren JonesReuters

    Senior cabinet minister Darren Jones has endorsed Andy Burnham for the Labour leadership.

    Despite speculation that he would run himself, the chief secretary to the prime minister said that "Andy Burnham is going to be the next prime minister".

    Jones, a former deputy to Rachel Reeves at the Treasury, said he had had a "reassuring conversation" with Burnham about economic policy.

    He suggested that a full leadership election would be a bad idea but said there were "definitely upwards of 100 MPs who have expressed concern either around a contest or economic policy or who were just feeling pretty depressed off the back of Keir Starmer resigning".

    Jones's comments came in an interview with Sky News.

  3. Andy Burnham's path to No 10 clears

    Adam Goldsmith
    Live reporter

    Jones and BurnhamReuters

    As Keir Starmer prepares to face the Prime Minister's Questions dispatch box today, it's looking increasingly likely Andy Burnham will be the man to replace him.

    Burnham could become prime minister by 16 or 17 July - which is now looking increasingly likely, as already-lukewarm bids from leadership rivals have cooled.

    Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones was said to be considering a leadership bid. He now tells Sky News: "Andy Burnham is going to be the next prime minister."

    "So the question for me," Jones asks, "is, well, what would the benefit be to the country and to the party of a leadership contest?"

    Meanwhile former Defence Minister Al Carns told BBC Newsnight on Tuesday that he is considering a contest, and will need to see Burnham's policies "before I can make a decision to back him".

    As Starmer prepares to take his final Commons bow, Rachel Reeves's time as chancellor may be limited - the BBC understands Burnham is likely to swap her into a more junior cabinet position if he becomes PM.

    As we build up to PMQs at noon, we'll catch you up with a frantic week in politics, and look ahead to how the race to be the UK's next prime minister is playing out.