Has Starmer’s position shifted? ITV News’ Political Correspondent Harry Horton reports.
Sir Keir Starmer will resign, according to the US president, who wished him well.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Donald Trump said: “Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom. He failed badly on two very important subjects – IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!).
“I wish him well!
“President DJT.”
It comes as the PM faces a leadership threat from Makerfield by-election winner Andy Burnham, with senior Labour sources telling ITV News they expect the prime minister to resign this week.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also privately urged Starmer to stand down when the pair spoke on Friday, ITV News understands.
The Prime Minister has repeatedly vowed not to walk away from his post, even as public talk of a leadership contest or handing power to Burnham has gained pace among Labour figures since he won the Makerfield by-election on Friday.
The number of Labour MPs calling for Starmer to go has since topped 100 – just under a quarter of the party’s MPs – and includes some who signed a letter warning against a leadership contest just last month.
Labour grandees have also spoken out, with former home secretary Alan Johnson saying Starmer should step aside and Lord Falconer saying he has “no authority” because it is assumed he will be replaced.
The Prime Minister is understood to be at Chequers with his wife and close advisers, weighing up his options, including potentially resigning.
No 10 said Starmer’s position remained unchanged from Friday, when he said he will not “walk away” from Downing Street and that he plans to stand in any potential contest.
He warned Labour staffers during a call on Friday lunchtime to avoid “plunging our party and our country into chaos by turning on each other and tearing apart our party and our movement”.
He is understood to have spoken to a number of Cabinet ministers on Friday, some of whom are reported to have told him he should set out a timetable for his departure.
Some in Westminster believe a contest could begin as early as next week, but allies of Burnham favour a longer wait to allow them to prepare for government.
It is understood that Burnham’s camp wants Starmer to set out his plans in the coming days, but would accept a timetable that kept him in No 10 until September.
The incoming Makerfield MP is expected to be in Westminster on Monday to be sworn into the Commons.
He is reportedly planning to speak to the Prime Minister afterwards and present him with a list of backers – which he is said to be seeking to get up to 200 – in a bid to press him to step down and set out a transition.
In a blow to Starmer, Labour peer Charlie Falconer said the Prime Minister has “absolutely no authority” because “everybody assumes” Burnham is going to challenge him and win.
He said he would advise Starmer not to stand in a leadership contest and instead agree a handover, preferably before the parliamentary recess on July 16.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
