The runners and riders: who is standing to succeed Starmer, and what they are offering

Within minutes of Sir Keir Starmer announcing his departure, the question on every Labour MP's lips was not whether there would be a contest, but who would be in it. The answer is still forming, but the broad shape of the field is already clear.

One candidate has declared. Several heavyweight figures are weighing their options. And at least two who had been tipped to run have instead chosen to throw their weight behind the early favourite, reshaping the contest before it has formally begun.

The declared candidate

Andy Burnham, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester who returned to the Commons as MP for Makerfield only days ago, was the first to confirm he would stand. He had made little secret of his intentions, having engineered a return to Parliament precisely in order to be eligible.

Burnham's pitch is built around what he calls a 'Makerfield test' for national policy, judging every decision by whether it delivers for the post-industrial towns he argues Westminster has neglected. He has promised an 'economy that works for everybody' and pledged action on water, energy and rail bills.

The contenders weighing a bid

Several senior figures are being urged to stand, both by allies who want a genuine contest and by colleagues uneasy about the prospect of a coronation. Among those reported to be considering a run are Darren Jones, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, a former leader himself.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns have also been mentioned, while former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has been the subject of intense speculation since being cleared by HM Revenue and Customs over an earlier tax inquiry. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is frequently named but has shown little appetite for entering the fray.

• Andy Burnham (MP for Makerfield) — declared candidate
• Darren Jones (Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster) — reported potential candidate
• Ed Miliband (Energy Secretary) — reported potential candidate
• David Lammy (Deputy Prime Minister) — reported potential candidate
• Angela Rayner (former Deputy Prime Minister) — speculated candidate
• Al Carns (former Armed Forces Minister) — reported potential candidate
• Shabana Mahmood (Justice Secretary) — named but seen as unlikely

Those backing Burnham

The most significant early move came from Wes Streeting, the former Health Secretary who resigned from cabinet in May and had been widely tipped to mount his own bid. Instead he has endorsed Burnham, denying the contest its most obvious centre-ground challenger.

Douglas Alexander, the Scotland Secretary, has also declared for Burnham. The early endorsements help explain how Burnham was able to claim the support of more than 200 Labour MPs by 20 June, even before Sir Keir had confirmed he was going.

“I will put myself forward as part of this process.”

— Andy Burnham

Background

The crisis that produced this contest built over months. Catastrophic local election results in May, in which Labour shed roughly 1,500 councillors and lost control of dozens of councils, convinced large numbers of MPs that the party could not win the next general election under Sir Keir's leadership.

A wave of cabinet and junior ministerial resignations followed, culminating in Streeting's departure on 14 May. Burnham's decisive by-election win in Makerfield then turned long-running speculation into an open challenge.

What happens next: the field will only be confirmed once nominations open on 9 July. If a credible challenger emerges and clears 81 MPs, Labour members face a genuine choice. If not, Burnham could be installed unopposed.