, June 23 -- Andy Burnham, Britain's newly elected lawmaker and long-time Greater Manchester mayor, is positioning himself as the leading candidate to become the next Labour leader, in a contest that could effectively hand him the job unopposed.

Burnham met Labour colleagues on Tuesday as preparations intensified for a leadership race triggered by Prime Minister Keir Starmer's announcement that he will step down within weeks after a turbulent two-year tenure marked by policy missteps and declining public support.

Starmer's resignation has opened the door for a rapid leadership transition within the governing Labour Party. Burnham, widely seen as the frontrunner, could become prime minister as early as July 17 if no rival emerges. If a c...