Politics latest: Streeting says he could challenge Starmer next week ahead of last PMQs before crucial by-election

Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin’s analysis:

As a man who loves football, Keir Starmer could hope to spend this weekend watching the World Cup.

Instead, Makerfield is facing calls to use the 48 hours after the byelection results to consider his future and announce a date for his resignation.

This is the public message from his rival Wes Streeting.

Behind the scenes, others are urging the Prime Minister to do the same.

Mr Streeting also warned Sir Keir he could face a leadership challenge as early as next week if he refuses to stand down.

But many in the Labor Party hope it doesn’t come to this. So why?

Voters who often don’t reward politicians who wield the knife.

Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak understood this when he faced criticism over his treatment of his predecessor Boris Johnson at the last election.

And Labor itself is still scarred by what happened to former leader Ed Miliband.

He was accused of backstabbing his brother David, who was still leader years after taking office.

Asked what preparations he was making for a potential Labor leadership contest, Sir Keir Starmer told reporters: “First and foremost, I want Andy Burnham to win and that’s why I’ve encouraged activists and members to get out there throughout the campaign and they’ll be there tomorrow and help get the vote.

“What happens then is that we get dragged into the Manchester mayoral by-election, which is one of the biggest by-elections we’ve ever had because of its scale.

“And it’s really important to me that the whole Labor Party and the Labor movement focus on this, which is the next most urgent task.

“I don’t think there should be a challenge. I think history, especially the last government, shows that this is not a successful way for a government to conduct itself.”

“But if there is a challenge, then I intend to fight.

“I’m not going to give up on this, and I’ve been clear and consistent about that.”

Cabinet Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds will remain undecided on whether the Labor leadership battle will begin next week.

Asked whether he expected former health secretary Wes Streeting to launch a challenge next week, he told Sky News: “I’m not Nostradamus.”

He added: “If you look at this week, on Monday the Government announced a social media ban for under-16s.

“The Prime Minister has delivered £1.3bn of investment to the UK in the G7, creating over 1,400 jobs.

“I am also pleased to say that in my brief we set the date for the 2026 UK-EU summit on 22 July, at which time I will again seek to finalize deals on food and drink, reducing trade barriers and (and) energy which will impact household bills.

“So this week I see a Government delivering results.”

Speaking during the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, the prime minister said he would speak to Mr Burnham “after the weekend” after the Makerfield results came in and said there were no circumstances under which he would quit his job.

If the mayor of Greater Manchester wins tomorrow’s election, he is expected to return to Westminster to challenge the prime minister for his job.

But amid growing threats to power, Sir Keir insisted he did not feel “angry” or “angry” over the leadership crisis he faces.

Read the full article by our political correspondent Millie Cooke here:

Criticizing the Prime Minister, Wes Streeting said: The Cathy Newman Show On Sky News: “I don’t think he’s listening to the former defense secretary, I don’t think he’s listening to military chiefs, I don’t think he’s listening to our NATO allies.

“For Labor, I don’t think he listened to his cabinet, I don’t think he listened to the parliamentary party and I don’t think he listened to the voters, who only sent Labor that very humble message at the ballot box in May.”

Outlining his economic vision to reporters at a press conference in central London earlier, the senior Labor figure said: “There is a huge amount of talent in the front and backbenches of the Parliamentary Labor Party.

“It is not used well enough and the divisions between different tribes of the Labor Party are often exaggerated.

“I think we all have a common sense of what’s wrong. I think we have different views on how to fix it, but ultimately we need to come together.”

Mr Streeting’s diagnosis is that Labor currently suffers from three problems: leadership, policy and culture.

Wes Streeting has called on Sir Keir Starmer to set a timetable for Andy Burnham’s departure if he wins this week’s Makerfield by-election, while indicating he is ready to launch the Labor Party leadership contest next week.

The former health secretary accused Sir Keir of not listening to the party or his cabinet in a series of public appearances on Tuesday, while insisting he had the support of the 80 MPs needed to enter the contest.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said he would prove his rivals wrong as he fights for his political future and “keep doing what I was elected to do” and “bring back the change people desperately need”.

Mr Streeting said he wanted Sir Keir to reflect over the weekend and decide to leave “on his own terms” after Thursday’s vote, which could see Mr Burnham return to Westminster to challenge the prime minister.

But the former cabinet minister said he was being pressed on whether he would launch a rivalry if Sir Keir remained in place, as the Prime Minister had made clear he wanted. BBC News Night: “We can’t go on with this uncertainty and paralysis, there will have to be a competition and that’s what I’m ready to do.”

Mr Streeting said he did not “want to get into the ‘Is it Monday or Tuesday’ question about how soon he would be willing to challenge, but said Sir Keir should be given “time over the weekend” to consider his position.

Asked by LBC whether he would challenge Sir Keir if the Manchester mayor fails to win the Makerfield by-election, he said: The Andrew Marr Show: “Yes, I believe we need a change of leadership, and if Andy Burnham doesn’t return, I still believe we need that change of leadership.”