Andy Burnham has moved a significant step closer to becoming the next Labour leader and prime minister, having secured the backing of 322 Labour MPs in the initial nomination count. Nominations opened on Thursday, and Burnham currently stands as the sole declared candidate, with his nomination tally falling just one short of the threshold that would make it mathematically impossible for any rival to enter the contest.

Burnham's rapid ascent follows his recent by-election victory in Makerfield, a win that has amplified calls for Sir Keir Starmer to step aside. Starmer resigned as Labour leader on the same day Burnham was sworn in as an MP, stating he had considered his suitability to lead the party into the next general election.

The substantial support for Burnham has come from across the parliamentary Labour party, with many MPs expressing gratitude for his nomination. Burnham himself stated he was deeply grateful for the nominations, emphasizing that the support reflected a shared belief in a new approach to British politics. He outlined his vision as a "circuit breaker" offering power decentralization, an economy rewired for ordinary people, and broad-based economic growth.

If no other candidate emerges, Burnham is expected to be declared Labour leader next week and would then assume the role of prime minister on July 20. This would represent a remarkable return to frontline politics for the former Greater Manchester mayor, who left Westminster in 2017.

The path for Burnham to run unopposed was further solidified when former defence minister Alistair Carns, who had briefly been considered a potential contender, ruled himself out of the running. However, the prospect of a leadership contest concluded without a formal vote has prompted some within the Labour party to call for Burnham to provide more detailed policy proposals.

Candidates require the backing of 81 Labour MPs to officially enter the leadership race, a threshold Burnham has comfortably surpassed. He would also need nominations from three of the 31 affiliated socialist societies and trade unions, a step widely anticipated to be a formality given his current standing.

Burnham's previous bids for Labour leadership in 2010 and 2015 have not been successful. His departure from Parliament in 2017 means he may have had fewer opportunities to build relationships with MPs elected more recently, who now constitute a significant portion of the parliamentary party.

As it stands, Burnham is scheduled to be the sole participant in a parliamentary hustings event on Monday, where he will field questions. The leadership process, culminating in a potential prime ministerial handover on July 20, is unfolding rapidly following Sir Keir Starmer's unexpected resignation.