Burnham could become PM without members voting if 323 MPs back him

Labour's rulebook permits Andy Burnham to become party leader unopposed if no rival candidate reaches 81 MP nominations by Wednesday. If Burnham secures 323 nominations, mathematicians would render it impossible for any challenger to qualify. He would then be declared leader at week's end and become prime minister on 20 July — all without Labour members casting a ballot, despite party rules nominally designed to consult the wider movement.