PLP 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. 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: “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. Our NEC members believe Andy, as Labour leader and Prime Minister, can begin the Party’s fightback from the dismal May election results, by delivering the change promised in 2024 and earning a second term in Government. For that reason we are urging Labour MPs to unite behind Andy and give him their nomination for leader.
“We believe Andy Burnham 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 also think he can regenerate our regions and bring back economic growth, to help secure jobs and pay for fundamental renewal in our public services. These are the changes that our members desperately need. We are looking to Andy to build on the achievements of Labour’s first two years in Government and accelerate delivery of a fairer and inclusive society.”
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
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion