SOURCE: BBC
Four ministers resign and call for Keir Starmer to step down, joining more than 80 Labour MPs who have urged the PM to quit immediately or draw up a timetable to leave
Meanwhile 110 Labour MPs sign a statement backing the PM, saying “this is no time for a leadership contest”
Deputy PM David Lammy says “no-one seems to have the names to stand up” against Starmer, and tells his colleagues to “take a breath”
The PM told a cabinet meeting earlier he would “get on with governing” and that a leadership contest had not been triggered – here’s how one could be set in motion
Starmer will meet Health Secretary Wes Streeting, seen as a likely leadership rival, on Wednesday morning – who else could potentially challenge the PM?
Health Secretary Wes Streeting will meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Number 10 tomorrow to discuss the current turbulence in government.
Streeting is widely considered to be keen to succeed Starmer, and a number of the health secretary’s supporters are among the ministers and parliamentary private secretaries who have resigned this week.
Starmer told his colleagues at cabinet this morning that he would be happy to meet them individually, and it’s understood that Streeting requested a meeting.
Allies of the health secretary say he won’t be saying anything after tomorrow’s encounter because he does not want to distract from the King’s Speech.
Yet the instability surrounding the prime minister’s position is sure to overshadow the state opening of parliament, whether Streeting talks to the media or not.
110 Labour MPs have signed a statement opposing a leadership contest.
The statement reads: “Last week we had a devastatingly tough set of election results. It shows we have a hard job ahead to win back trust from the electorate.
“That job needs to start today – with all of us working together to deliver the change the country needs. We must focus on that.
“This is no time for a leadership contest.”
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No-one seems to have the names to stand up against Starmer, says Lammypublished at 17:05:05
We can now bring you more from Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy’s comments to the BBC outside Downing Street.
Lammy says the PM “has my full support,” adding that “no one seems to have the names to stand up” against him.
“No-one has come forward to put themselves forward in the processes that exist in the party,” Lammy says.
He adds that those suggesting Starmer stand down as prime minister should “say which candidate would do better”.
David Lammy has said Keir Starmer has his “full support” and urges Labour colleagues to step back and “take a breath”.
Speaking outside No 10, the deputy prime minister says: “We must put country before party.”
Lammy adds that the only person who benefits from the Labour Party “navel-gazing” is Nigel Farage, and asks colleagues not to benefit the Reform leader or his party.42
You’ve been sending us your thoughts on the prime minister’s position – here’s a selection:
Starmer should resign. He comes across as just another career politician who says whatever is needed to stay in power. More and more people are starting to see that he seems more interested in controlling and reshaping the Labour Party than actually standing for clear principles or delivering real change for ordinary voters.
Dean in Manchester
Stability at this time must overcome personal ambition. Shame on those MPs who cannot or will not see the damage they are doing to the country and party. Get behind the PM and show some leadership.
Pamela in Exeter
Starmer has not been concentrating on the important issues recently. I feel it important that we have a stable and reliable leader. Hopefully, a decision to that effect will be made soon. I am concerned that a new leader could well be more to the left. I am hoping that the country can survive until the next General Election when a more stable government with better economic policies can rule.
Chris in Bedfordshire
I think everyone needs to get behind Keir Starmer. He’s only two years into the job. We all knew it would be tough for him. And he won’t win many friends trying to put things right. All the MPs need to stop carping at him and try and understand….to change now would only let Reform into other seats.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will not resign from her position and is “cracking on with the job”, a spokesperson tells the BBC.
Yesterday she was among a number of cabinet ministers believed to have urged the prime minister to set out a timetable for his resignation.
teeters this evening on the niceties of process.
His authority continues to drain; his government, his party openly combusting in front of us.
But today’s act of defiance – an expression of his long standing view that his ousting would herald chaos – hinges on Labour’s rulebook.
None of his potential successors has yet declared – let alone come forward with the requisite 81 names of Labour MPs.
And so while he looks increasingly done for in anything beyond the short term, at least for now he has a procedural barricade to cower behind. And – tactically – he’s saying to his potential challengers to put up or shut up.
For Wes Streeting in particular, then, whose nurturing of prime ministerial ambition isn’t recently acquired, a crunch point. To go for it, or not?
The potential prize, the premiership. The potential jeopardy, huge.
And meanwhile the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham found himself in London today, seeking support and a seat and sharpish.
It is seven years ago this month that Theresa May resigned as prime minister. Since then, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.
Only Sunak was ousted in an election. Starmer hangs on, for now.
