Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Manchester, has emerged as a top contender to replace British Prime Minister Keir Starmer , should a leadership challenge unfold. Often referred to as the “King of the North,” Burnham has held the mayoral position since 2017 and is currently the most popular figure in the Labour Party, according to a YouGov ranking. With Starmer’s premiership in crisis amid a string of high-profile resignations and dozens of lawmakers calling on the Labour leader to step down or set a timeline for his departure, thoughts are turning to who could govern in his stead. A poll wrapped in early May showed 42% of Labour members would pick Burnham as their preferred choice, should a leadership contest take place. But he faces a key stumbling block—he’s not currently a Member of Parliament (MP) and thus not in a position to launch a challenge.…