Starmer poised to quit Downing Street as he reflects on 'political realities'
Sir Keir Starmer is expected to set out his timetable for departure on Monday
Sir Keir Starmer is poised to quit as Prime Minister after reflecting on the “political realities” he faces amid a mutiny from key Cabinet ministers and more than 100 of his MPs.
Sir Keir, who spent the weekend contemplating his next move at his Chequers retreat with family, friends and aides, is expected to now set out a timetable for his departure following Andy Burnham’s dramatic return to Westminster.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper became the latest key Cabinet secretary to tell him his time in Downing Street must end, following Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander reportedly piling pressure.
US President Donald Trump also waded into speculation over the Prime Minister’s future, writing on social media that Sir Keir “will resign” and attacking him again for his policies on energy and immigration.
In recent weeks, Sir Keir has lost defence secretary John Healey, health secretary Wes Streeting and a host of junior ministers as his leadership plunged into crisis.
The Prime Minister is believed to have been considering his future over the weekend following Mr Burnham’s resounding victory in the Makerfield by-election last week, with Labour’s newest MP poised to plot a leadership challenge.
Some reports suggest Sir Keir could confirm his intention to leave office and set out when his departure will take place on Monday.
One Cabinet minister has admitted Sir Keir Starmer is reflecting on the “political realities” he now faces and did not shut down the multiple reports that he could set out a timetable for his departure imminently.
READ MORE: Why Andy Burnham as PM would not be a silver bullet to take away Scottish Labour's troubles
The Prime Minister vowed not to walk away from his post on Friday, in the immediate aftermath of Mr Burnham’s victory, cruising past a challenge from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
The number of Labour MPs calling for Sir Keir to go has since topped 100 – just under a quarter of the party’s MPs – and includes some who signed a letter warning against a leadership contest just last month.
Labour grandees have also spoken out, with former home secretary Alan Johnson suggesting Sir Keir should step aside and Lord Falconer arguing he has “no authority” because it is assumed he will be replaced by Mr Burnham.
A Scottish Labour MP who quit Sir Keir’s government last month over his leadership has called on the Prime Minister to now set out a timetable to leave office.
Glasgow South West MP Zubir Ahmed, insisted that Sir Keir staying on in Downing Street was “not tenable”.
He said: “It’s no secret that I resigned from the government about five weeks ago because I’d lost confidence in the Prime Minister’s leadership.
“Clearly, things have moved on somewhat since then. There’s been a by-election where Andy Burnham has had a stonking result to defeat Reform and unite a new category of voters.
“In that context, my opinion hasn’t changed and I think, increasing swathes of the parliamentary Labour party’s opinion hasn’t changed and is forming the view that we need a change of leadership.”
Dr Ahmed said Sir Keir was “rightly reflecting on that this weekend”.
He added: “I think the best thing that can happen now is that next week we set out an orderly timetable for departure and transition.”
The former minister argued that “the Labour government has done some amazing things”.
“But I think to take us to the next step in our journey, we need new leadership”, he added.
Mr Trump, who has fallen out in recent months with Sir Keir over the Prime Minister’s refusal to fully support his war with Iran, has not spoken to the UK Labour leader since they saw each other at the G7 summit in France earlier this week.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, the US President said: “Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom.
“He failed badly on two very important subjects – IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!).
“I wish him well! President DJT.”
Mr Trump has repeatedly urged the UK government to open up the North Sea for oil and gas instead of pursuing a renewable energy strategy.
The SNP criticised the Labour government for the “chaos” at Westminster.
SNP deputy leader Keith Brown said: “Sir Keir Starmer is being dragged out of No 10 by his own party whilst the country suffers through a government ignoring the myriad of challenges facing people in their everyday lives.
“It's clear Westminster chaos will never end. Even his own allies are now conceding - the language from a key Starmer ally makes clear his resignation is imminent.
“The Labour party asked voters to trust them to end the era of political psychodrama - yet barely into government they’ve been consumed by internal division and are now lurching towards yet another leadership contest.”
He added: “Sir Keir Starmer promised voters a government focused on fixing broken Brexit Britain but instead they scrapped the winter fuel payment, broke their promise to Waspi women, and have been defined by a complete lack of principles.
“It turns out the only thing moving faster than Labour's policy U-turns is Labour's leadership carousel. Whether it’s Burnham, Streeting or another Labour lackey, the one guarantee is that the Westminster chaos will not end.”
UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle said he had not spoken to the Prime Minister since Friday, when he had a “frank conversation” with him.
Asked about reports Sir Keir is planning to announce his resignation as soon as the coming week, he said: “I have nothing to believe that they are true. I’m seeing a lot of speculation out there.
“The only thing I can say with fact is that the Prime Minister is hard at work, as he is every day.
“He is one of the most hardworking people I’ve ever come across, and today, as in every other day I’ve ever known Keir, he is out there working hard.
“At the same time he is also trying to create the space where he can think and reflect on the political realities and challenges, and the opportunities, that lie before us.”
Asked if he thought Mr Burnham would make a good prime minister, he said: “I think there is lots of people out there that have the qualifications, the temperament and the qualities to become prime minister. I think Andy Burnham could be one of those people.”
Mr Burnham is due to make his return to Westminster on Monday to be sworn in as the new MP for Makerfield.
It is understood his camp wants Sir Keir to set out his plans in the coming days but would accept a timetable that kept him in No 10 until September.
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