Former defence minister Al Carns has ruled out standing in the Labour leadership contest, leaving Andy Burnham as the clear favourite to succeed Keir Starmer as both Labour leader and prime minister. After initially expressing reservations, Carns said discussions with Burnham had convinced him that he was the right person to lead the country and urged the party to unite rather than engage in a divisive leadership battle. Burnham has already secured the backing of former health secretary Wes Streeting and is expected to attract the nominations required to become the sole candidate. If no challenger qualifies, he could become Labour leader within days before taking office as prime minister later this month. Supporters point to Burnham’s leadership as mayor of Greater Manchester, particularly during the Covid pandemic and following the Manchester Arena attack, as evidence of his ability to lead nationally. The development signals a desire among many Labour MPs for stability and a swift transition of leadership following Starmer’s resignation.