Wes Streeting backs Andy Burnham to replace Starmer as UK prime minister

Former health minister Wes Streeting has said he will back Andy Burnham to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister.

The move takes Streeting out of the contest himself and strengthens Burnham's position as frontrunner.

Starmer announced his resignation earlier on Monday.

Streeting quit Starmer's government in protest in May.

He had previously said he would take part in any contest to become prime minister.

But he threw his weight behind Burnham in a letter posted on X on Monday and said the pair had spoken at length in recent days.

Streeting said he was convinced there was a place for his ideas on "progressive capitalism" under Burnham.

"We could spend the summer exaggerating small differences, or we can roll up our sleeves and help him to deliver the change our party and our country needs," Streeting said in his letter.

Nominations for Starmer's replacement as Labour leader will open on Jul 9 and close by mid-July.

If there is a contest, a new leader will be in place by September.