Wes Streeting has said he will not stand for the Labour leadership, directly after Andy Burnham said he would, making it highly likely that Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor, will become prime minister next month.

In a post on X, Burnman, who will be sworn is as an MP later on Monday after winning last week’s Makerfield byelection, said Starmer’s announcement on Monday that he would stand down as prime minister “marks the beginning of a transition and it is important that this process is conducted in an orderly and responsible way”, adding: “I will put myself forward as part of this process.”

Minutes later, Streeting, the former health secretary who resigned from Starmer’s government last month, posted on X that having spoken to Burnham, he had been told that Burnham hoped to build “an inclusive party”, and that he would not fight for the leadership.