Andy Burnham Gains Key Union Support in Labour Leadership Race

Jul 14, 2026

63 min

Jul 14, 2026 14:30

Burnham in sight of Downing Street wins top UK union support

## Unison Backs Burnham

Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Manchester, has received significant backing from Unison, the UK's largest trade union, in his bid to become the next leader of the Labour Party. This endorsement strengthens his position as the sole candidate in the leadership race, following Keir Starmer's resignation.

## Labour Leadership Contest

Burnham has secured 349 nominations from Labour MPs, making it impossible for any other candidate to challenge him. With Labour holding a majority in the House of Commons, the new leader is set to become the next prime minister.

## Upcoming Leadership Conference

The Labour Party will hold a special leadership conference on Friday to officially announce the new leader. Burnham is expected to meet King Charles III shortly after to form the next government.

## Focus on Economic Growth

Burnham has emphasized the need for economic growth and decentralizing power from Westminster. Bank of England's Andrew Bailey has also highlighted economic growth as a critical issue for the incoming prime minister.

## Hillsborough Law

Burnham, a long-time advocate for the Hillsborough disaster victims, has supported a new law to ensure transparency in public investigations. This legislation aims to prevent cover-ups by requiring officials to be open during inquiries into state failures.

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