South Tyneside’s MPs reveal who they are backing for the country’s next Prime Minister
South Tyneside’s MPs have backed Andy Burnham to be the next Prime Minister.
Both of South Tyneside’s MPs have pledged their support to Andy Burnham to become the next Labour leader and Prime Minister.
Emma Lewell, MP for South Shields, and Kate Osborne, MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East, are among 322 Labour MPs who have nominated Burnham to be the party’s next leader.
Ms Osborne previously backed Andy Burnham to be the next Prime Minister after Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation outside of 10 Downing Street on June 22.
Speaking at the time, she said: “It is our job as a movement to bring people together, to show that unity is strength and to understand what drove people to vote for Labour.
“We cannot win people back simply by exposing Reform or telling people they are wrong to be angry.
“Because people are understandably angry, and frustrated.
“The question is where that anger is directed and how we can bring back hope.
“Hope springs eternal and Andy's election is an opportunity to drive change both in the Labour Party and in the country.”
The current Prime Minister stepped down after Burnham won a resounding victory in the Makerfield by-election, which paved the way for him to return to the House of Commons.
Both Ms Lewell and Ms Osborne have been vocal in their dissatisfaction at Starmer’s leadership, most notably following Labour’s heavy loses in the May 2026 local elections.
Given the number of MPs who have backed Andy Burnham, it is expected that he will become Labour leader unopposed in a week’s time (Friday, July 17) and will then become Prime Minister on July 20.