LONDON, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Andy Burnham formally entered the Labour Party leadership race on Thursday by nominating himself as the nominations process opened.
The former mayor of Greater Manchester said on social media that he had nominated himself to be leader of the Labour Party, making him the only declared candidate in the race so far.
According to Labour's leadership election timetable, nominations will remain open until July 15, and candidates must secure the nominations of 81 Labour MPs, including themselves, during that period.
They must also secure nominations from at least three Labour affiliates, including at least two trade union affiliates, by July 16 to pass the nomination threshold.
If Burnham remains the sole candidate and meets the nomination threshold, he will be declared Labour leader at a special party conference on July 17 and is expected to become Britain's prime minister later, succeeding outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
All of Burnham's known potential rivals have ruled themselves out of the race. Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who had previously been seen as a potential contender, voiced support for Burnham last month, while former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns told reporters on Wednesday that a leadership contest was "not the best use of Labour's time."
In a speech delivered last month, Burnham proposed establishing a "No. 10 North" as "an extended operation" of the prime minister's office based in Manchester. He also outlined "Manchesterism," which he described as "a rejection of the old trickle-down model" that would give all parts of Britain "the chance to develop their own version of the same." ■