Starmer must make plans to resign as soon as Makerfield by-election result revealed, Streeting says
Wes Starmer has called on Keir Starmer to set a date for his departure from Downing Street on Friday morning following the Makerfield by-election result.
The future prime minister also said he had “no doubt” the Labor leadership contest would take place, insisting he had the support of the 80-odd MPs needed to be on the ballot even if Sir Keir refused to go.
Mr Streeting said he hoped Sir Keir’s replacement, Andy Burnham, could win the by-election and return to Parliament to challenge the Labor leader.
He added: “Hopefully after the by-election on Thursday, when the results are announced… I hope the prime minister will consider his position at this stage and set a timetable.
“I think this will be a better way for everyone.”
His call came during a speech in central London where he announced his bid to become Prime Minister, ruled out a snap general election, backed a triple lock on pensions and praised the former Tory chancellor.
But the Prime Minister insisted he would prove his opponents wrong and “get on with the job I was elected to do”.
Speaking at the G7 summit in France, Sir Keir also said he would “bring back the change that people desperately need” after the by-election.
Mr Streeting faced questions about his level of support among MPs after failing to spark a contest when he resigned from Sir Keir’s cabinet last month.
“He said he wanted to wait for the by-election result because one of the inevitable candidates was on the ballot. If I had made a quick choice and tried to get ahead of Andy Burnham before he got back, I think that would have been foul play.”
Asked whether he would launch a contest after the Makerfield result, he said he had “no doubt” a leadership election would take place.
And he said Sir Keir’s legacy would be to be the leader who “saved Labor from oblivion” after the Jeremy Corbyn years.
Regarding his vision to govern the country, he was asked whether he could rule out early general elections.
“Yes,” he said, adding that Labor had a “five-year parliamentary mandate”.
He also said the controversial triple lock on pensions “will remain” at least until the next election in 2029.
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