Former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has confirmed he will run to succeed Keir Starmer as Labour leader and UK prime minister. Burnham's announcement follows Starmer's resignation and comes after his strong victory in the Makerfield by-election. The veteran Labour politician is widely viewed as the frontrunner in the leadership contest

Keir Starmer on Monday announced his resignation as UK prime minister. Former Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham is seen as the frontrunner for succession to the top post.

Starmer became the sixth UK PM in the last decade to have resigned before their term ended. Burnham has confirmed that he will run to succeed Keir Starmer as Labour leader and UK prime minister.

Earlier last week, Burnham won the crucial Makerfield by-election by a huge majority.

Burnham defeated the Reform UK candidate, Robert Kenyon, by 9,231 votes, and the new hardline Restore Britain party came a distant third.