379 Labour MPs nominate Andy Burnham as next leader and PM, making him sole candidate

Almost 95 percent of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) have nominated Andy Burnham to become Labour's next leader and Prime Minister.

According to the final published list of nominations, 379 MPs backed Burnham for the leadership, including several Cabinet members. Burnham is the only MP to have entered the contest, after all other potential contenders — including Wes Streeting, Darren Jones, and Al Carns — ruled themselves out.

The number of nominations made it impossible for any other candidate to secure the 81 names required to make the ballot.

Lone Dissenting Nomination

Despite the overwhelming support for Burnham, one MP — Neil Coyle — nominated Catherine West for the leadership. West, who had initially attempted to trigger a leadership contest after May's local elections, has since backed Burnham.

Burnham's Response

Following the publication of the first list of nominations last week, Burnham said:

"I am deeply grateful to the 322 Labour MPs who have put their trust in me and nominated me for Leader of the Labour Party. Their support comes from across the PLP and reflects a shared belief that Britain needs a new approach to politics."

MPs Who Did Not Nominate Anyone

A total of 23 Labour MPs opted not to nominate Burnham or any other candidate for the leadership:

• Apsana Begum (Poplar and Limehouse)
• Phil Brickell (Bolton West)
• Tom Collins (Worcester)
• Neil Duncan-Jordan (Poole)
• Mary Glindon (Newcastle-upon-Tyne East and Wallsend)
• Carolyn Harris (Neath and Swansea East)
• Chris Hinchliff (North East Hertfordshire)
• Shabana Mahmood (Birmingham Ladywood)
• Alex Mayer (Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
• Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham and Morden)
• John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington)
• Perran Moon (Camborne and Redruth)
• Samantha Niblett (South Derbyshire)
• Richard Quigley (Isle of Wight West)
• Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Clapham and Brixton Hill)
• John Slinger (Rugby)
• Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
• Keir Starmer (Holborn and St Pancras)
• Graham Stringer (Blackley and Middleton South)
• Jessica Toale (Bournemouth West)
• Jon Trickett (Normanton and Hemsworth)
• Anna Turley (Redcar)
• Nadia Whittome (Nottingham East)

Explaining the Decision

In an interview with LBC, South Derbyshire MP Samantha Niblett explained why she chose not to nominate Burnham:

"I completely understand why the majority of my colleagues decided to nominate Andy, not least to show a sign of unity and the fact that the handover is a non-chaotic one, which again I think is a testament to Keir Starmer's character.

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"But there was just a little bit of me that just thought the two things can coexist — I can feel like the process for which he was ousted from his role was inappropriate, and I can also believe that I want the Labour government to deliver — and it will under Andy.

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"For me, and it's a very personal decision, he didn't need my nomination. It doesn't mean I'm not going to back him as Prime Minister."