Who is Andy Burnham, the man likely to be Britain's next prime minister?

London — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday that he was resigning , less than two years after he led his center-left Labour Party to a commanding general election victory. Starmer vowed an "orderly transition" that should see a new prime minister in place by September, if not much sooner, after months of mounting public dissatisfaction over the economy and perceived slow progress in tackling illegal immigration. Attention quickly shifted onto the man seen widely as Starmer's likely replacement. While it's still possible that there will be a leadership contest within the Labour Party, senior members appeared keen to avoid the spectacle and momentum was building fast around Andy Burnham. Until last week, Burnham had been the Mayor of Manchester, Britain's fifth largest city, for about a decade. He stepped down from that role to stand in a local by-election last week, easily clinching the seat in Makerfield, Greater Manchester, to become the local Member of Parliament in the House of Commons. Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham speaks as he celebrates his victory in a Makerfield by-election on June 19, 2026 in Ashton in Makerfield, England. Ryan Jenkinson/Getty While not required by law, British party leaders have long been chosen from among sitting elected lawmakers. …