Starmer given deadline: ‘Quit by Tuesday or face humiliation’

Sir Keir Starmer faces a “tough deadline” to resign at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, insiders say, after a senior Labor colleague said the prime minister had “absolutely no authority” and should go.

While the Labor leader spent the weekend listening to the views of ministers and MPs Independent He learned that Andy Burnham’s allies were conspiring to have him quickly installed as Labor leader through a coronation rather than a contest.

Labor MPs have been called on to back the former Greater Manchester mayor, while approaches to former health secretary Wes Streeting are understood to be urging him to reach a deal and not try to force a competition.

There is speculation that Mr Streeting could be appointed chancellor if he agrees not to run against Mr Burnham; This will allow the former mayor to take over from Sir Keir when parliament returns after the summer recess in September.

Charlie Falconer, who was chancellor under Tony Blair, turned his back on Sir Keir and warned him not to challenge for his leadership by forcing a contest.

“My advice, unfortunately, would be ‘Don’t stop’,” he told BBC Radio 4, adding that a war would be “bad for the country” and that the prime minister had “absolutely no power” because there was a widespread belief that Mr Burnham would take over.

One MP said: “The coronation means we can have a quick and orderly transition.”

Meanwhile, another senior source said: “Keir has until the cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning to draw up a timetable for his departure. This is his last chance to leave gracefully and with some dignity, otherwise it will be cruel and humiliating for him.”

Sir Keir went into the weekend insisting he would mount a leadership challenge and enter a contest, but on Friday transport minister Heidi Alexander became the first senior minister to say he should go to the prime minister since Mr Burnham won a landslide by-election victory in Makerfield against Reform last week.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood are set to repeat demands to set a timetable for his departure several weeks in advance.

Harriet Harman was also outspoken: “The herd is not just acting against Keir Starmer, he is being stigmatised.”

Meanwhile, former home secretary Alan Johnson, another staunch Labor MP, told Andrew Marr on LBC: “If I could talk to him now I’d say, ‘It’s all over, Keir; Andy will stand up and win.'”

As pressure grew for Sir Keir to go, Mr Burnham was taking the weekend off after a busy by-election campaign as he prepared to return to parliament after almost a decade away. His supporters were in contact with Labor MPs; some estimates suggest that more than 200 MPs currently support him becoming prime minister.

Ministers in Sir Keir’s government have made clear he must go or accept the imminent end of his premiership.

A minister told Independent they felt “pretty good” because “there was a real sense that the uncertainty was over”. Another minister said they were enjoying the “calm before the storm”.

Meanwhile, backbench MPs were making clear to chief whip Jonathan Reynolds that change was “now inevitable”.

One MP noted: “There is certainly hope that we can get there – I think Keir Starmer is still remarkably our main obstacle. But even Alan Johnson says he should go.”

An ally of Mr Streeting also confirmed talks were ongoing for him to reach a deal and not run for the leadership: “They are discussing it but beyond that they’re not sure.”

There is a suggestion that Mr Streeting could be appointed chancellor if he agrees not to stand.

Independent MP Karl Turner, who is expected to be readmitted to Labor by Mr Burnham, said a contest was unnecessary. He told Sky News: “I’m very hopeful that it won’t have to get to this point. [a contest]. In my view, selection is not necessary if one candidate will perform much better than the other candidate.

“The candidates I am considering are Wes Streeting, a man of real integrity who will play a major role in government.

“The other candidate is Andy Burnham, who absolutely crushed it at Makerfield.”

Bracknell MP Peter Swallow, one of 100 MPs who signed the letter calling for Sir Keir to go, said: “This is really difficult; it’s a challenging moment, I’m not going to lie. I think it’s the right moment for the prime minister to resign and hand it over to someone else.”

He said the “final straw” was John Healey’s resignation as defense secretary and the delay in publishing and properly funding the Defense Investment Plan.

More from Common Researcher Rhiannon McQuone said polls of voters in Makerfield found that most of those who voted for Mr Burnham did so to “get Starmer out”.

But there were signs that the loyalists remaining around Sir Keir may seek to support Darren Jones as the new Prime Minister to avoid a rivalry should Sir Keir step aside.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Mike Tapp, whose seat of Dover is threatened by Reform, has warned that Mr Burnham will need to call a general election before he can get a new mandate.

He said: “We have heard from Reform that if we change the leader they will call a general election. The pressure will be intense and it will be credible because every one of us as Labor MPs was calling when the Conservatives did the same.”