‘The King of the North’: who is the man tipped to be the next British PM?

Keir Starmer has announced he will stand down as prime minister less than two years after his election victory, kickstarting the race for who will be the next Labour leader. And with MPs nervous about the growing threat from Nigel Farage’s Reform, many are speculating that the ‘King of the North’, Andy Burnham, could be next in the top job after a thumping victory in a local byelection last weekend. Reged Ahmad speaks to the North of England editor, Josh Halliday, about the man expected to become the next British prime minister and why he says this next week could define UK politics for years to come