Union backing secures Labour leadership for Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham has won the required trade union support, making him the sole candidate to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader.

• Burnham has secured nominations from 349 Labour MPs and eight of the party's 11 affiliated unions, eliminating any rival candidate.
• He is set to be unveiled as Labour leader on Friday and to enter Downing Street as prime minister three days later.
• Unite said its nomination and future support would be conditional on Burnham introducing a wealth tax and loosening government borrowing rules to boost investment.
• The nomination window opens this evening and will run for 24 hours, with unions such as GMB, Unison, and Usdaw already confirming their backing.

Latest developments

• Jul 15 — Incoming PM Andy Burnham has indicated his government may need to 'ask for a little more' in tax before signaling a wealth tax is off the agenda for now, saying he does not want to 'create new divisions.'
• Jul 15 — Allies have named Shabana Mahmood as the frontrunner for chancellor, though Ed Miliband remains widely expected for the role but faces opposition from oil and gas unions.
• Jul 15 — Burnham is expected to announce his cabinet on Monday.
• Jul 15 — Senior Labour figures expect Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to be named chancellor, amid a briefing war over Ed Miliband's potential appointment.
• Jul 15 — Burnham's team insists no final decision has been made and the cabinet will be appointed after he enters No 10 on Monday.