2026 Labour Party leadership election
← 2020
9 July – 1 September 2026[a]
 
Candidate Andy Burnham
Incumbent Leader

Keir Starmer


The 2026 Labour Party leadership election was caused by Keir Starmer's announcement of his resignation on 22 June 2026 as leader of the Labour Party.

Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester Mayor, had been long tipped as a potential leadership challenger to Starmer. However, Labour rules dictate that only MPs can stand for the leadership. Previously blocked from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election by the National Executive Committee, Burnham won the Makerfield by-election after the constituency's MP, Josh Simons, resigned in order to allow Burnham to return to Parliament. Burnham's by-election victory intensified discussion of a leadership challenge; Starmer announced his resignation on 22 June, on the same day Burnham was sworn into Parliament.[1]

Nominations are expected to open on 9 July and close on 16 July, with a leader to be elected by 1 September if a contested election is held.[1] Burnham is currently the only MP to announce his candidacy for the leadership contest. Wes Streeting, who had previously expressed his wish to stand in a leadership contest, endorsed Burnham immediately after his candidacy was announced.

This leadership election will be the third held while the Labour Party is in government, the last two being in 1976 and 2007. It is also Burnham's third time standing in a Labour leadership election, having previously stood in the 2010 and 2015 leadership elections.

Background

Starmer leadership and premiership

Approval ratings of Keir Starmer as Prime Minister
See also: Premiership of Keir Starmer

In January 2026, Andy Burnham attempted to stand to be the Labour Party candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election.[2][3] As a result, speculation began that if Burnham entered parliament, he would attempt a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer.[2][3]

In February, Anas Sarwar, the Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, called for Starmer to resign as party leader.[4][5]

2026 local elections

Main article: 2026 Labour Party leadership crisis

In the May 2026 UK local elections, the Labour Party lost control of over half of the councils up for election.[6] Labour also lost over 1,400 councillors, which BBC News reported as the single largest loss of councillors Labour had had in a single local election.[6] Reform UK and the Green Party made their highest gains ever.[6]

At the same time, Labour suffered a historic defeat in the 2026 Senedd election, failing to win either an outright majority or plurality in the Senedd for the first time in its history, losing to Plaid Cymru.[6][7] In the 2026 Scottish Parliament election as well, the Labour Party failed to make expected gains, coming in joint-second with Reform UK in terms of MSPs.[6]

On 9 May, Labour MP Catherine West issued an ultimatum for a leadership challenger to Keir Starmer to step forward by 11 May or that West would put herself forward as a candidate.[8] West said her preferred option was that someone already in the cabinet become leader, with Keir Starmer "given a different role".[8] That same day, around Labour 30 MPs had either directly called for Keir Starmer to resign, or for him to set out a timetable on his departure.[8] On 11 May, no candidate had been put forward, and West refused herself to stand as a challenger.[9]

As of 21:28, 11 May 70 MPs had called for Keir Starmer to resign.[10] On 13 May, allies of Health Secretary Wes Streeting told BBC News that they expected him to resign and launch a leadership bid as soon as tomorrow.[11] A spokesperson for Streeting stated that he would not do anything to "distract" from the State Opening of Parliament.[12] In a meeting with MPs later in the evening, Starmer vowed to fight a leadership challenge if the health secretary ran.[13] Cabinet ministers loyal to Starmer attempted to convince colleagues that a change in leadership would paralyse the government and cause chaos.[14]

On 13 May, Starmer said to The Observer that he wanted to be in office for ten years and would stand in a possible leadership contest.[15] Starmer's position rapidly deteriorated on 14 May. Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner was cleared by the HM Revenue and Customs over her tax scandal, which was viewed as paving the way for her to join a leadership race.[16] Streeting announced his resignation at 1:00pm GMT, stating that he had lost confidence in Starmer's government. Al Carns was reported by Sky News to be interested in a leadership challenge.[17]

Return of Burnham to Parliament

On 14 May, Josh Simons resigned his Makerfield seat in parliament in order to allow Andy Burnham to contest the by-election so as to be able to stand for the Labour leadership,[18] in accordance with party rules that require any candidate for leader to be a member of the Parliamentary Labour Party.[19] Whilst Burnham had previously been blocked from standing in the 2026 Gorton and Denton by-election in February 2026 by the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party (NEC), they did not block his candidacy for the Makerfield by-election.

On 16 May, Wes Streeting stated he would stand in a leadership election, should there be one, but that he only supported having a "proper contest" to give Burnham time to return to Parliament and be eligible to stand, thus delaying any leadership contest until June.[20]

The 2026 Makerfield by-election was held on 18 June, with Burnham exceeding expectations to win the by-election with a large majority of over 9,000 votes. Burnham gained the support of over 200 Labour MPs by 20 June. The Guardian reported on 20 June that a Burnham leadership campaign was inevitable and that his allies are confident that Burnham may be elected uncontested, though some Labour MPs still want a contested leadership race.[21]

Timeline

  • 9 July: Nominations open
  • 16 July: Nominations close
  • 17 July: New leader appointed if a single candidate is nominated
  • Summer recess: Contested elections if multiple candidates are nominated
  • 1 September: Target date to have appointed a new leader[22]

Candidates

Under the Labour party's rules, for a leadership contender to be on the ballot, they must be nominated by at least 20% of the Parliamentary Labour Party, meaning 81 MPs would be required.[8][23]

Burnham was the first to announce his candidacy for the leadership contest after Starmer's resignation announcement, stating he "will put [himself] forward as part of this process."[24] Wes Streeting, who was seen as a potential candidate, endorsed Burnham.[25]

Declared

Candidate Born Political office Announced Nominated

Andy Burnham
7 January 1970
Aintree, Lancashire
MP for Makerfield (2026–present)
Mayor of Greater Manchester (2017–2026)
MP for Leigh (2001–2017)
Secretary of State for Health (2009–2010)
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (2008–2009)
Chief Secretary to the Treasury (2007–2008)		 22 June 2026[24]

Potential

  • Former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns MP for Birmingham Selly Oak
    Former Armed Forces Minister
    Al Carns
    MP for Birmingham Selly Oak

Al Carns

Al Carns was elected as the MP for Birmingham Selly Oak at the 2024 United Kingdom general election.[26] He was a regular Royal Marines officer from 1999 until 2024, and has been a reserve officer since re-enlisting after his election. He was the Armed Forces Minister at the Ministry of Defence from September 2025 until he resigned on 11 June 2026, following Defence Secretary John Healey's resignation earlier that day, over a disagreement with Starmer over military spending.[27][28][29][30][31][32]

He has reportedly considered standing in any leadership election.[33] He has been considered a "wildcard" candidate by Sky News[34] and ITV News correspondent Harry Horton,[35] while ITV correspondent Shehab Khan referred to him as a "potential outsider".[36]

Declined

  • Darren Jones, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (2025–present) (endorsed Burnham)[37]
  • David Lammy, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2025–present) (endorsed Burnham)[38]
  • Wes Streeting, former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (2024–2026) (endorsed Burnham)[25]

Endorsements

Andy Burnham

  • David Lammy, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom[38]
  • Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer[39]
  • Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education[40]
  • Darren Jones, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster[37]
  • Emma Reynolds, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs[41]
  • James Murray, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care[42]
  • Nick Thomas-Symonds, Minister for the Cabinet Office[41]
  • Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for Scotland[43]
  • Wes Streeting, former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care[25]
  • Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care[44]
  • Alison McGovern, Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness[45]
  • Hamish Falconer, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State[46]
  • Luke Charters, Member of Parliament for York Outer[47]
  • Jo White, Member of Parliament for Bassetlaw[41]
  • Melanie Ward, Member of Parliament for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy[41]
  • Connor Naismith, Member of Parliament for Crewe and Nantwich[48]
  • Rachel Taylor, Member of Parliament for North Warwickshire and Bedworth[49]
  • Paul Waugh, Member of Parliament for Rochdale[50]
  • Rachael Maskell, Member of Parliament for York Central[47]
  • Rosie Wrighting, Member of Parliament for Kettering[51]
  • Lee Barron, Member of Parliament for Corby and East Northamptonshire[51]
  • Matt Bishop, Member of Parliament for Forest of Dean[52]
  • Gill Furniss, Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough[53]
  • Liam Byrne, Member of Parliament for Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North[54]
  • Sarah Champion, Member of Parliament for Rotherham[55]
  • Chris Curtis, Member of Parliament for Milton Keynes North[56]
  • Paul Foster, Member of Parliament for South Ribble[57]
  • Chris Webb, Member of Parliament for Blackpool South[57]
  • Oliver Ryan, Member of Parliament for Burnley[57]
  • Clive Lewis, Member of Parliament for Norwich South[58]
  • Tom Hayes, Member of Parliament for Bournemouth East[59]
  • Patrick Hurley, Member of Parliament for Southport[60]
  • Jo Platt, Member of Parliament for Leigh[61]
  • Catherine West, Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Friern Barnet[62]

Opinion polls

Polling companies began polling Labour members on their preferred candidate in a potential leadership contest.

Multi-candidate polling
Dates
conducted		 Pollster Sample size Andy
Burnham		 Al
Carns		 Yvette
Cooper		 Louise
Haigh		 Sadiq
Khan		 David
Lammy		 Shabana
Mahmood		 Ed
Miliband		 Bridget
Phillipson		 Lucy
Powell		 Angela
Rayner		 Keir
Starmer		 Wes
Streeting
23 June 2026 Lammy declines to run[38]
22 June 2026 Starmer announces resignation[1] and Streeting declines to run[25]
15–19 May 2026 Ipsos[63] 346 Labour voters 38% 0% 3% N/a 3% 3% 2% 3% 0% 1% 7% N/a 4%
31% 0% 4% N/a 1% 1% 0% 2% 1% 1% 4% 18% 2%
14–18 May 2026 YouGov[64] 706 Labour members 47% 0% 3% N/a N/a N/a 1% 3% N/a N/a 8% 31% 4%
15–16 May 2026 Find Out Now[65] 306 Labour members 36% 1% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 4% N/a N/a 7% 36% 2%
30 Apr – 5 May 2026 Survation[66] 1,078 Labour members 42% 2% 5% 1% N/a N/a 4% 10% N/a 1% 11% N/a 11%
29 Jan – 3 February 2026 Survation[67] 1,264 Labour members 41% N/a 7% 1% N/a N/a 7% 8% N/a 1% 17% N/a 19%
Head-to-head
Dates
conducted		 Pollster Sample size Andy
Burnham		 Al
Carns		 Yvette
Cooper		 Louise
Haigh		 Darren
Jones		 Shabana
Mahmood		 Ed
Miliband		 Bridget
Phillipson		 Lucy
Powell		 Angela
Rayner		 Keir
Starmer		 Wes
Streeting
23 June 2026 Lammy declines to run[38]
22 June 2026 Starmer announces resignation[1] and Streeting declines to run[25]
14–18 May 2026 YouGov[64] 706 Labour members 75% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 21% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
69% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 27% N/a N/a
59% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 37% N/a
80% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 10%
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 35% N/a N/a 61% N/a N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 38% N/a N/a N/a 58% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 58% N/a N/a N/a N/a 28%
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 47% 49% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 70% N/a 19%
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 65% 15%
13–14 May 2026 Survation[68] 1,124 Labour members 61% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 28% N/a
71% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 18%
N/a 17% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 45% N/a
N/a N/a 31% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 45% N/a
N/a N/a N/a 29% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 50% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a 25% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 40% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 15% N/a N/a N/a N/a 64% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 19% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 43%
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 46% N/a N/a N/a 39% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 58% N/a N/a N/a N/a 30%
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 25% N/a N/a 46% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 27% N/a 51% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 45% N/a N/a 34%
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 45% 41% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 54% N/a 29%
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 53% 23%
29 Jan – 3 February 2026 Survation[67] 1,264 Labour members 53% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 37% N/a
N/a N/a 26% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 49% N/a
N/a N/a N/a 25% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 52% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 17% N/a N/a N/a N/a 55% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 41% N/a N/a N/a 44% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 29% N/a 52% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 48% 37% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 42% 30%
22–23 Jan 2026 Find Out Now[69] 501 Labour members 48% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 26% N/a
18–20 Nov 2025 Survation[70] 1,013 Labour members 58% N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 32% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 16% N/a N/a N/a N/a 50% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 44% N/a N/a N/a 40% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 26% N/a N/a 42% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 30% N/a 48% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 52% 33% N/a
N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 31% 33%

See also

  • 2020 Labour Party leadership election (UK)
  • 2026 Labour Party leadership crisis
  • 2026 Greater Manchester mayoral by-election

Notes

  1. ^ If Burnham runs unopposed, the leadership election is expected to conclude upon the close of nominations on 16 July.

References

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