𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Sir Keir Starmer has reportedly told friends he will stand down and lay out a timetable for his departure from No.10. An unnamed member of his Cabinet told the MailOnline that the PM “understands the political reality” and realises the “current chaos” is “unsustainable”.

The same source is reported to have told the same publication: “He simply wants to be able to do it in a dignified way and in a manner of his own choosing. He will set out a timetable.” Another minister claimed Sir Keir’s former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, has urged him to hang on, arguing there is still a chance he can survive in post if there is a tight leadership contest or the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, who is believed to be seeking to replace him, appears on course to lose.

Reports Sir Keir intends to stand down as PM are at odds with his insisting just days ago that he would not quit.

Asked if he would lead Labour at the next election and serve a full term of five years, he told the Sunday Mirror on May 10: “Yes I will, and I’ve always said it’s a decade of national renewal, where the legacy we inherited was an appalling legacy on all fronts, not just the economy, which was broken.”

Since then Wes Streeting has resigned as Health Secretary and stated he would seek to join the race to be PM.

Mr Burnham is also a potential rival to Sir Keir, although he has to win a by-election in Makerfield so he can become an MP and challenge Sir Keir.

Sir Keir said Labour would “be better and do better” as he delivered a crunch speech on Monday, which ultimately failed to win over the doubters in his own party.

Commentator, Dan Hodges, writing in the Mail, said Sir Keir standing down has the potential to undermine Mr Burnham’s by-election campaign.

A spokesman from Mr Burnham’s team insisted the announcement of a timetable for Sir Keir’s exit was a matter for him.

An ally of the Greater Manchester mayor told Hodges they don’t want to muddle the campaign message that a vote for Mr Burnham is a vote for change at No.10.

So far, Mr Burnham has only been granted permission by Labour’s ruling body, the National Executive Committee (NEC), to stand in the selection process for the Makerfield by-election.

While Makerfield is typically a safe seat for Labour, the party expects a stiff challenge from Reform UK this time around.

The seat is up for grabs after Josh Simons stood down, writing in The Times that Sir Keir has “lost the country” and should oversee an orderly transition to a new prime minister.