STORY
Senior cabinet ministers have reportedly told Keir Starmer that he should stand down as Prime Minister, as Labour’s internal crisis deepened after the Makerfield by-election. It is being reported that a sizeable number of cabinet ministers had told Starmer his time was up, while the Guardian reported that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper was among those urging him to leave office.
Reports also named Ed Miliband, Shabana Mahmood and Heidi Alexander as ministers who had told the Prime Minister he should set out a timetable for departure. Other ministers were reported to be continuing to support Starmer, including Rachel Reeves, Steve Reed, Pat McFadden and David Lammy.
The reports have not been formally confirmed by Downing Street, which has maintained that Starmer is focused on the work of Government. The situation leaves Labour facing the prospect of either an agreed transition or a leadership contest if Burnham or another candidate secures sufficient parliamentary support.