Summary

  • Our live coverage has ended - you can read our story here

  • Keir Starmer has faced his first Prime Minister's Questions since he announced his resignation as Labour leader

  • After the PM arrived to cheers, Kemi Badenoch began by asking about defence spending - she then asked if the PM felt let down by his chancellor

  • Starmer insisted they have the "right economic plan" that can "weather global storms". Badenoch responded: "If it's all so fantastic, why is he resigning?"

  • Badenoch also criticised other members of the PM's team, including the education secretary - Starmer said Bridget Phillipson is "an incredible story of social mobility"

  • The Conservatives say the Tory leader won't apologise for her language in the Commons

  • With Starmer on his way out, Badenoch sought to broaden her critique to other senior Labour folk, writes Chris Mason - not least Andy Burnham, who she described witheringly as a "pair of eyelashes and a black T-shirt"

  • Burnham remains the front-runner to succeed Starmer - if he doesn't face a challenger, he could become PM by 16 or 17 July

Live Reporting

Edited by Charlotte Hadfield and Angus Thompson

  1. Analysis

    Another complication removed for Burnham

    Henry Zeffman
    Chief political correspondent

    Andy Burnham with colleagues from the Parliamentary Labour Party in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament in central London, as he returns to the House of Commons to take up his seat after winning the Makerfield by-election.PA Media

    Andy Burnham with Labour MPs on Monday

    It was already highly likely that Andy Burnham would become the next prime minister and Labour leader.

    Arguably Darren Jones’s announcement does not really change that - though he claimed in his interview with Sky News that he might have been able to reach the 81 MPs required for a full leadership election with party members over the summer.

    But at the very least it removes a slight complication from Burnham’s path, allowing him to focus more on his plans for government, even if the former defence minister Al Carns is still publicly toying with his own challenge (we'll have more from Carns in our next post).

    What’s striking is how candid Jones was that his big concern about Burnham was his plans for the economy.

    He said that Burnham had reassured him. The former Manchester mayor is giving a speech on the economy next week which will in part represent his attempt to reassure other MPs.

    In addition, this is why the question of who would be his chancellor is so central to the debate in Westminster.

  2. If Reeves is replaced - who could be the next chancellor?

    Mitchell Labiak
    BBC Business reporter

    Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves on stage at an eventPA Media

    Wes Streeting: Instead of pitching himself for the leadership role, Streeting has backed Burnham - and could be awarded the number two job in British politics.

    Ed Miliband: Some see Miliband as an inflation risk, believing his drive for net zero as energy secretary is partly responsible for the UK's high energy prices compared to other countries. But others think he could gain the confidence of the markets with his "intellect, experience, and authority".

    Pat McFadden: He's held shadow Treasury jobs, been a business minister in a Labour government and is the current work and pensions secretary. His experience in the latter could help tackle welfare reform.

    Yvette Cooper: She has years of experience in government, and served as chief secretary to the Treasury under Gordon Brown.

  3. Burnham likely to replace Reeves if he becomes PM

    Harry Farley
    Political correspondent

    Rachel ReevesReuters

    The BBC understands that if Andy Burnham becomes prime minister, he is expected to replace Rachel Reeves as chancellor and offer her a more junior cabinet position.

    Most Labour MPs assume Reeves will not continue in that role but, as first reported by the Financial Times, she is expected to be offered a more junior cabinet position.

    A close ally of Burnham told the BBC: "Andy really respects Rachel and I'm confident he'll want her in his top team."

    A spokesperson for Burnham said no decisions had been made.

    Meanwhile, James Purnell - who served as a minister in Gordon Brown's government between 2007 and 2009 - is expected to be appointed Burnham's Downing Street chief of staff.

    As well as working under Labour governments, Purnell has worked at the BBC in various roles including head of corporate planning and, more recently, director of radio and education. He left the corporation in 2020.

  4. Jones had 'reassuring conversation' with Burnham about economic policy

    Henry Zeffman
    Chief political correspondent

    Darren JonesReuters

    Senior cabinet minister Darren Jones has endorsed Andy Burnham for the Labour leadership.

    Despite speculation that he would run himself, the chief secretary to the prime minister said that "Andy Burnham is going to be the next prime minister".

    Jones, a former deputy to Rachel Reeves at the Treasury, said he had had a "reassuring conversation" with Burnham about economic policy.

    He suggested that a full leadership election would be a bad idea but said there were "definitely upwards of 100 MPs who have expressed concern either around a contest or economic policy or who were just feeling pretty depressed off the back of Keir Starmer resigning".

    Jones's comments came in an interview with Sky News.

  5. Andy Burnham's path to No 10 clears

    Adam Goldsmith
    Live reporter

    Jones and BurnhamReuters

    As Keir Starmer prepares to front the Prime Minister's Questions dispatch box today, it's looking increasingly likely Andy Burnham will be the man to replace him.

    Burnham could become prime minister by 16 or 17 July - which is now looking increasingly likely, as already-lukewarm bids from leadership rivals have cooled.

    Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones was said to be considering a leadership bid. He now tells Sky News: "Andy Burnham is going to be the next prime minister."

    "So the question for me," Jones asks, "is, well, what would the benefit be to the country and to the party of a leadership contest?"

    Meanwhile former Defence Minister Al Carns told BBC Newsnight on Tuesday that he is considering a contest, and will need to see Burnham's policies "before I can make a decision to back him".

    As Starmer prepares to take his final Commons bow, Rachel Reeves's time as chancellor may be limited - the BBC understands Burnham is likely to swap her into a more junior cabinet position if he becomes PM.

    As we build up to PMQs at noon, we'll catch you up with a frantic week in politics, and look ahead to how the race to be the UK's next prime minister is playing out.