When would Britain’s new prime minister take office if Starmer steps down?

If Keir Starmer decides to resign, one of the main questions that immediately arises is when his successor would take office as prime minister.

Within the Labour Party, there are growing voices expecting a “coronation” — in other words, a scenario in which Andy Burnham would remain the only candidate.

The BBC reports that some of the most influential figures in Burnham’s camp believe he should take over around the time of the Labour Party’s annual conference, at the end of September. According to them, this would give him more time to prepare for governing and to be ready to get to work without delay if he becomes prime minister.

However, other key supporters of the former Greater Manchester mayor see that timetable as too late. They argue that a three-month transition period would paralyze the government, as speculation about Burnham’s concrete plans for government could turn into a frenzied wave of conjecture.

At present, the decisive figure in this debate remains Starmer himself. He may be so irritated by the way he has been treated by Labour Party MPs that he chooses to leave as quickly as possible. On the other hand, he may be tempted by the idea of using the coming months to push forward certain policies that he sees as essential to his legacy.