MPs’ nominations close on 15 July and affiliates, including trade unions, will have the opportunity to nominate a candidate who has secured the support of at least 81 MPs on 16 July. A candidate can only be validly nominated if they have the support of at least 81 MPs and three affiliates, two of which must be trade unions. If only one candidate is validly nominated, there will be a special conference on 17 July to elect a leader and that person is expected to become Prime Minister on 20 July.
Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary says: “We are delighted that Labour MPs have united behind Andy Buurnham, with such overwhelming support on the first day of nominations. Andy also needs the nominations of three affiliated organisations, of which two must be unions. Usdaw will be one of those, after our national executive council unanimously voted to support him to be the next Labour leader.
“Andy Burnham’s exceptional victory in Makerfield proved that he has the ability to reach voters with a strong message of hope and defeat the divisive politics of hate. He is the right person to ensure that Labour’s manifesto commitment of a new deal for workers to help make work pay is delivered in full. We are looking to Andy to build on the achievements of Labour’s first two years in Government and accelerate the delivery of the change that the country voted for in 2024.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest with around 370,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also represents many workers in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
Labour Leadership 2026 - PLP Nominations
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion