Cabinet ally fails to deny Keir Starmer is poised to quit TOMORROW as he reveals PM is ‘reflecting on political realities’ after Andy Burnham’s thumping by-election win

One of Keir Starmer’s Cabinet allies has failed to deny claims that Keir Starmer is ready to step down tomorrow, amid heated speculation over the Prime Minister’s future.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle did not deny reports that Sir Keir will announce his departure from Downing Street on Monday.

The Prime Minister is said to have concluded, after discussions with Cabinet colleagues, No 10 advisers, union leaders and major Labor Party donors, that his position was no longer tenable.

Sources insisted Sir Keir, who was discussing his future with wife Victoria in their hometown of Chequers this weekend, has not yet made a final decision.

Mr Kyle confirmed Sir Keir was reflecting ‘on the political realities and challenges’ following Andy Burnham’s landslide victory in the Makerfield by-election; This led to fresh calls from Labor MPs for Sir Keir to resign.

The Prime Minister is now under huge pressure to set a timetable for his departure and make room for Mr Burnham at the possible coronation of the former Manchester mayor.

Asked about reports the Prime Minister was planning to announce his resignation, Mr Kyle told Sky News: ‘I have nothing to believe they are true. I see a lot of speculation out there.

‘All I can really say is that the Prime Minister works as hard as he does every day; he is one of the hardest working people I have ever encountered.

‘He’s working hard there today, just like every day I’ve known Keir.

‘He is also trying to create the space in which he can reflect and reflect on the political realities, the challenges and the opportunities that lie ahead.’

Business Secretary Peter Kyle did not deny reports that Sir Keir will announce his departure from Downing Street on Monday.

Mr Kyle confirmed Sir Keir had been reflecting on the ‘political realities and challenges’ following Andy Burnham’s thumping victory in the Makerfield by-election.

Asked whether he had concluded that Sir Keir’s resignation was in the best interest of the country, Mr Kyle said: ‘All I really know is that he has had discussions with a wide range of people, including myself.

‘As well as working really hard this weekend, I think he has taken the time to reflect on the political realities, challenges and opportunities in which he finds himself.

‘I think that’s what people expect him to do right now.’

On Saturday night, Downing Street responded to reports that Sir Keir was ready to resign by saying that the Prime Minister’s position had not changed since Friday, when he vowed to keep fighting and said he would not give up the leadership challenge.

Sir Keir said at the time: ‘If there is a competition, yes I will run. I’ve said many times that I won’t give up on this.’

But when asked in a later TV interview whether it was still true that Sir Keir would fight any challenge to his leadership, Mr Kyle said only: ‘He is fighting for our country.

‘And today he is working as hard as every day I have known him as leader of the Labor Party and Prime Minister.

‘He is also taking time this weekend to reflect on the political challenges facing himself, our country and our party.’

Asked whether Sir Keir still planned to enter the leadership challenge, Mr Kyle told the BBC: ‘Those are Keir’s decisions to make.

‘So I said that as well as dealing with all the issues that a Prime Minister deals with over the weekend, a very busy weekend, he also takes time last week to think about what the political realities are today compared to the week before.

‘But I know that he is a Prime Minister who always puts the country first and that in his day-to-day work as Prime Minister he will frame every decision he makes on behalf of the country today; But at the same time, when he thinks about the direction of the party going forward, it will always be about what is in the best interests of the country.’

Mr Kyle admitted there was ‘clear political uncertainty’ when asked whether Sir Keir was considering setting out a timetable for handing power to Mr Burnham.

He added that the Government would ensure ‘whatever happens’ in the coming days that there is ‘a functional process’ where Labor puts ‘the interests of the country first’.

‘I can’t predict the future anymore,’ he added. ‘I don’t know what will happen in the coming days.

‘I do not know what decision he will make on behalf of our country as he evaluates these issues and decides.

‘But we will find a way for this to be a functional process where Labor is seen to put the country’s interests first and foremost, whatever happens, and we will continue to deliver for this country, whatever happens in the coming days.

‘Because Keir demands it.’

The Prime Minister will not ‘walk away’ from Downing Street and create a political vacuum, a Labor colleague has claimed. Instead he would ‘arrange for a slow march as a matter of duty and honour’.

Mr Burnham, who defeated Reform England in the Greater Manchester seat in last week’s by-election, will be sworn in as an MP tomorrow.

Sir Keir is under pressure to clarify his intentions ahead of Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. Another Labor leader said: ‘He was faced harshly with the fact that the support was not there.

‘The truth is that everyone knows this is no longer a tenable proposition. There’s sadness in everything, but sometimes in politics it’s inevitable.’