Labour nominations open with Andy Burnham as sole candidate

Nominations opened Thursday for the Labour Party to select a new leader and, by extension, Britain's next prime minister, with former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham the sole expected candidate. The process follows Keir Starmer's resignation announcement last month after two years in office, a tenure marked by policy reversals and questions about his judgment that eroded his support within the party.

Burnham, who returned to Parliament last month by winning a special election, needs the backing of at least 80 Labour MPs to become a formal candidate, a threshold he is widely anticipated to surpass easily. The final potential challenger, former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, ruled himself out late Wednesday, stating that months of internal party politics was not what the country needed. Carns said Burnham had earned the opportunity and pledged his full backing.

In the absence of any other candidates, Burnham is highly likely to be formally declared the new Labour leader at a special party conference on July 17. He is then expected to meet with King Charles III and become prime minister on July 20. Even as the only contender, Burnham will participate in an online hustings...