Welsh Secretary backs Andy Burnham to become next prime minister

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said she was backing Andy Burnham to become the next prime minister.

Stevens said she nominated Burnham when he previously ran to be Labour leader in 2015 and will be "nominating him again when that process opens next month".

She added that it would be up to Burnham "to decide who he wants in his cabinet".

The former Mayor of Manchester returned to the House of Commons after winning the Makerfield by-election last week.

Burnham and other potential candidates have from 9 July to 15 July to collect the backing of 81 MPs, and until 16 July to gather the required number of nominations from affiliated bodies such as trade unions, to stay in the contest.

While on a visit to Anglesey, Stevens said she was "very sad" about Sir Keir Starmer's resignation, describing him as an "absolutely brilliant prime minister".

She said: "He's taken the party from oblivion in 2019 through to the biggest general election win in my lifetime and delivered across the United Kingdom over the past two years.

"So, I'm very sad to see him go."

Asked if she would like to continue as Secretary of State for Wales, Stevens said it was "an enormous privilege to serve in government".

"It will be up to Andy Burnham, if he's the new prime minister, to decide who he wants in his cabinet, and we'll wait and see what happens".

Stevens was appointed as Welsh Secretary in July 2024.