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Veteran British politician Andy Burnham has emerged as the new leader of the United Kingdom’s governing Labour Party, clearing the way for him to become the country’s next Prime Minister following the resignation of Keir Starmer.

Burnham was confirmed as Labour leader on Friday after no other candidate secured the required nominations to challenge his bid during a special Labour Party conference, effectively handing him the leadership unopposed. The outcome was officially announced by the UK’s Interior Minister, Shabana Mahmood, who declared Burnham the duly elected leader of the Labour Party.

“There being no other eligibly nominated candidate, it is therefore my honour to declare that the duly elected leader of the Labour Party is Andy Burnham,” Mahmood told party delegates.

Burnham’s emergence comes at a pivotal moment for the Labour Party, which has been grappling with internal uncertainty following Starmer’s decision to step down as party leader amid mounting pressure from within the party. A seasoned politician, Burnham has held several senior ministerial positions under previous Labour governments.

He later became Mayor of Greater Manchester, where he built a strong national profile through his advocacy for greater regional autonomy, improved public services, and increased investment in local communities.

His tenure as mayor earned him widespread recognition, particularly during periods of national crisis when he repeatedly called for increased financial support and greater decision-making powers for local authorities. Burnham is expected to complete the constitutional process and formally assume office as the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister on Monday.

In his acceptance speech, the incoming Labour leader pledged to reunite the governing party after a period of internal divisions and restore public confidence in government.

He also promised to devolve more powers from central government to local authorities, arguing that local communities should have greater control over decisions affecting their economies and public services.

Among his key priorities are strengthening the National Health Service (NHS), improving public transport, stimulating economic growth, and expanding opportunities across every region of the United Kingdom. Political analysts believe Burnham’s administration will focus heavily on regional development, investment in public infrastructure, and reforms aimed at reducing economic inequalities across the country.

His confirmation has already drawn reactions from political leaders, Labour members, and supporters, many of whom expressed optimism that his leadership could mark the beginning of a new chapter for both the Labour Party and the United Kingdom. Attention is now expected to shift to the formation of Burnham’s cabinet and the policy agenda his government intends to pursue during its first weeks in office.

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The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Senator Williams Eteng, has revealed that the National Assembly is moving to amend Nigeria’s petroleum laws to align them with current economic realities, describing many of the existing provisions as obsolete.

Speaking with journalists after the committee’s meeting, the Cross River Central lawmaker said the committee’s priority is to strengthen the petroleum sector by improving infrastructure, increasing crude oil production and providing a legal framework capable of supporting sustainable growth.

“We are looking at ways of improving the petroleum sector, strengthening infrastructure, and increasing crude oil production. That is our major focus,” Eteng said.

The senator disclosed that the committee had already received a proposal seeking amendments to the principal petroleum laws, noting that several penalties and fines currently contained in the legislation have remained unchanged for decades.

“A presentation has been made for us to amend the principal petroleum laws. The penalties are old and outdated. Some of the fines were enacted in 1951, while others date back to 1962. There is a need to bring these laws in line with present-day realities,” he stated.

According to him, reviewing the laws has become imperative to ensure they adequately reflect modern economic conditions and provide an effective regulatory framework for the petroleum industry.

“Laws are made to serve society, and they must be amended from time to time to reflect current economic realities,” he added.

Eteng also addressed reports suggesting that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) delegated a junior officer to appear before the committee, dismissing the claim as inaccurate.

He clarified that the official seen at the committee meeting was merely the company’s liaison officer to the National Assembly and not a representative appearing on behalf of the NNPCL management.

“There was no junior officer representing NNPCL before the committee. The person you saw is the liaison officer between the National Assembly and NNPCL. Please get that right. NNPCL requested an excuse, and another date will be fixed,” he explained.

The chairman reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to engaging relevant stakeholders as it advances legislative reforms aimed at modernising Nigeria’s petroleum industry, enhancing regulatory efficiency and creating an enabling environment for increased investment and production.

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Ex-Miss Universe Chidinma Adetshina, returned to the Cape Town Regional Court on Thursday, July 16, 2026 as she continued her legal fight against deportation after her arrest for allegedly being in South Africa illegally.

Proceedings resumed shortly after 2pm, when the former Miss South Africa contestant was expected to submit an affidavit detailing the steps she says she has taken to regularise her immigration status.

According to an update from eNCA reporter Nobesuthu Hejana, the affidavit forms part of her effort to challenge the Department of Home Affairs’ deportation case.

Adetshina was arrested on 6 June and first appeared in the Cape Town Regional Court on 9 June.

She was released on warning while the matter was postponed to allow the legal process to continue.

The Department of Home Affairs alleges that she and her minor son were living in South Africa without lawful immigration status and is seeking her deportation through the courts.

Court documents previously filed by immigration officials state that authorities believe Adetshina entered South Africa while prohibited from doing so.

Those allegations remain before the court and have not been tested at trial.

Speaking outside court, Nobesuthu Hejana reported: ‘After 14H00 she will present an affidavit on steps she’s taken to regularise her status in the country.’

The court is expected to consider the affidavit alongside the Department of Home Affairs’ submissions before deciding on the next steps in the deportation proceedings.

The court proceedings mark the latest development in the immigration dispute surrounding the beauty queen, whose nationality became the subject of intense public debate during her participation in the 2024 Miss South Africa pageant.

Adetshina, who was born in Soweto, South Africa, to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, had initially contested for the Miss South Africa 2024 crown before withdrawing from the competition amid controversy surrounding her family’s citizenship status.

Her withdrawal followed an investigation by South African authorities into allegations concerning her mother’s identity and citizenship documentation.

The controversy also sparked widespread social media attacks directed at Adetshina because of her Nigerian heritage, despite the fact that she was born in South Africa and had met the eligibility requirements for the beauty pageant.

In August 2024, the South African government stated that Adetshina’s mother, at the time the contestant was a finalist in the Miss South Africa competition, may have been involved in identity theft.

Adetshina was later accepted an invitation to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, and emerged as the winner, earning the opportunity to represent Nigeria at the global Miss Universe competition.Africans & Diaspora

At the 73rd Miss Universe pageant held in Mexico City, Adetshina, finished as the first runner-up and was also crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.