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STORY

Andy Burnham is expected to return to Westminster this week after winning the Makerfield by-election, with allies seeking to build support for a possible Labour leadership bid. The Guardian reported that Burnham was expected to speak to Starmer after being sworn in and could present him with a list of MPs backing a transition.

Under Labour rules, a challenger needs support from 20% of Labour MPs to enter a leadership contest. The Guardian reported that Burnham’s supporters were trying to build a large parliamentary base, while some Labour MPs are seeking a transition that avoids a damaging public contest.

Burnham has not formally launched a leadership challenge, but he has said his return to Parliament was intended to give voters a different political offer. His victory has intensified pressure on Starmer because it gives Labour MPs an alternative candidate who has recently defeated Reform UK in a high-profile contest.

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.

STORY

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle has said Keir Starmer is reflecting on the political realities facing him, while saying he had no reason to believe the Prime Minister would announce his resignation on Monday. Kyle said Starmer was considering the political challenges after speaking to a wide range of colleagues.

Speaking to broadcasters, Kyle said it would be wrong to ignore the fact that the Prime Minister’s position was under pressure. He said Starmer had been calm and thoughtful in a conversation on Friday and had focused on what was in the country’s interest rather than his own position.

Kyle’s comments were treated at Westminster as significant because they stopped short of a direct statement that Starmer would remain in post. Ministers and Labour MPs are now waiting to see whether the Prime Minister makes a statement before a cabinet meeting expected this week.

STORY

Keir Starmer is facing renewed pressure over his position as Prime Minister after reports that he could announce a timetable for leaving Downing Street on Monday. The pressure follows Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election, which gives the former Greater Manchester mayor a route back into Parliament and the ability to launch a Labour leadership challenge.

Starmer is expected to set out plans for an orderly departure, although Downing Street has denied that he is preparing to resign and said he remains focused on governing. Reuters reported that a Government source said the Prime Minister was still getting on with the job, while senior Labour figures continued to assess whether he could survive a challenge.

Starmer had previously said he would fight any leadership contest, but the political position changed after Burnham’s win. Labour MPs who want a transition have argued that the party needs a new leader to respond to Reform UK’s rise in the polls, while Starmer’s allies have warned that a contested leadership battle would create further instability.

STORY

The Office for Product Safety and Standards and other regulators have issued a joint statement warning that consumer products containing asbestos must be removed from sale and recalled. The statement said the UK operates a zero-tolerance approach to asbestos in consumer goods, reflecting the ban on its use and importation since 1999.

The regulators said enforcement decisions are generally based on risk and proportionality, but that products found to contain asbestos must be recalled from consumers. They said the position was not an indication of the level of risk in any individual case, but reflected the legal approach to asbestos in consumer products.

The statement places responsibility on businesses to ensure they are meeting product safety obligations. It comes as ministers and regulators continue to focus on product safety, consumer protection and the removal of unsafe goods from the UK market.

STORY

The Government has launched a consultation on the framework for future decisions on a third runway at Heathrow Airport. Ministers said the consultation was intended to support a final planning decision in 2029 and would test proposals against noise, air quality, climate and economic growth requirements.

The Department for Transport said Heathrow handled a record 84 million passengers last year and argued that additional capacity would support jobs across the UK. The Government said the expansion process must demonstrate that environmental and community concerns can be addressed before any final decision is taken.

The issue has long divided political parties, environmental groups, business organisations and local communities. The launch of the consultation moves the third runway proposal into another stage of the planning process, although any final decision remains several years away.