How quickly could Andy Burnham become the UK’s prime minister?

If Starmer, Streeting or anyone else decides to fight Andy Burnham (pictured) for the leadership, and they get the sufficient nominations, it will go to a vote of Labour’s membership. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images View image in fullscreen If Starmer, Streeting or anyone else decides to fight Andy Burnham (pictured) for the leadership, and they get the sufficient nominations, it will go to a vote of Labour’s membership. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Explainer How quickly could Andy Burnham become the UK’s prime minister? After winning the Makerfield byelection, the returning Labour MP faces a number of scenarios in his bid to replace Keir Starmer UK politics – live updates Full report: Burnham wins by huge majority After Andy Burnham’s seismic victory in Makerfield , his prospects of becoming prime minister in short order look significantly higher than they did 24 hours ago. But there are many variables in that process – from whether he faces a rival such as Wes Streeting in a leadership contest, to whether Keir Starmer is quickly ready to accept the likelihood of his political demise. The fastest: Burnham in No 10 within days The Labour party rulebook sets out that if an MP wants to challenge a sitting party leader, they must first be nominated by at least 20% of the parliamentary party (currently 81 MPs), as well as by at least 5% of all local branches or at least three party-affiliated groups, of which a minimum of two must be unions. Keir Starmer signals he would give Andy Burnham a cabinet job Read more Any contenders who meet the threshold go forward to a vote of party members, assuming there is more than one challenger. It also says that if a sitting leader is challenged, they do not need to meet these requirements and are automatically in the members’ vote – if they choose to be. There is a scenario in which Starmer reflects on the scale of Burnham’s win and decides he will step down immediately – perhaps after a mass of senior cabinet ministers tell him they will resign if he does not – and no other challengers come forward. Burnham would still need to go through the formal process of getting support from MPs and party groups, but with a coronation looming, this would most likely be swift. Labour’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) would set a timetable for the contest, and without a vote of the membership, the process could be completed in days. Slightly slower: Burnham in No 10 within weeks View image in fullscreen Keir Starmer has said he will fight any leadership challenge. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/AFP/Getty Images This is largely a re-run of the scenario above, but with the difference that Starmer agrees a timetable to depart which takes slightly longer, perhaps including a final diplomatic mission to the Nato summit in Ankara in early July. ‘Is it really as close as it looks?’ - your questions on the Makerfield byelection answered Read more Without a full contest taking place, Burnham and his