Former Defence Minister Al Carns announced on July 8, 2026, that he will not pursue the Labour leadership and encouraged his party to support Andy Burnham. Speaking to Sky News, Carns stated a leadership contest would not be the best use of the party's time, emphasizing the need for unity behind Burnham.
Al Carns Backs Andy Burnham
Carns' decision leaves Burnham as the sole declared candidate for the Labour leadership following Sir Keir Starmer's resignation last month. Initially, Carns had reservations about supporting Burnham until he received more details on his government plans. However, after a conversation with Burnham on Tuesday, Carns expressed confidence in Burnham's ability to lead the party.
Carns remarked, "We need to get on board. Andy's done a good job with Manchester, he's done a great job during Covid..." He highlighted Burnham's effective handling of crises, including the Manchester Arena attack, and positive economic trends in Manchester.
Burnham's Path to Leadership
As the process to elect a new Labour leader begins on Thursday, candidates must secure nominations from 20% of the party's MPs—81 in total—and endorsements from at least three of the 31 socialist societies or trade unions. Given that there are currently 403 Labour MPs, if Burnham secures 323 nominations, it would make it impossible for any other candidate to enter the race.
