Andy Burnham to be made UK Labour leader on way to becoming prime minister

LONDON: Andy Burnham, nicknamed the "King of the North", will become leader of Britain's governing Labour Party on Friday (Jul 17), the final step before becoming its seventh prime minister in a decade on a pledge to thwart the rise of the populist Reform UK.At a special conference on Friday, Burnham, who earned the regal moniker for his determination as mayor of Greater Manchester to defend the region's interests, will be elected after gaining overwhelming support from Labour lawmakers.The event is little more than a formality before he replaces Keir Starmer as Britain's leader on Monday, when the party will be eager to find out his cabinet team and learn more about his approach to government.BURNHAM'S BIG "REBALANCING OF POWER"Burnham, 56, will use his speech to press his message that hi