Starmer ‘ready to resign’ as allies say support is collapsing

Allies of Sir Keir Starmer have indicated that the Prime Minister may be on the verge of resigning, following a noticeable decline in support for his leadership over the weekend. A senior government official speaking to The Telegraph suggested that Sir Keir is beginning to acknowledge that “the game is up” and is contemplating how best to “shore up his legacy” before stepping down.

The recent victory of Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election has reportedly catalysed significant movement among Cabinet ministers, prompting Sir Keir to reassess his earlier commitment to remain in office. One Labour MP, who had previously been viewed as a loyal supporter, expressed the belief that the Prime Minister could announce a departure date as soon as Monday. “There’s no one left supporting him. The only people still around are those with family ties to No 10 or long-standing personal friends of Keir,” the MP remarked. They further noted that attempting to obstruct Mr Burnham’s ascent to Downing Street would be akin to “fighting gravity.”

A government insider predicted that “something will have happened by the end of the week,” warning that if Sir Keir chooses not to resign, the party could face a wave of mass resignations. Another source within the government highlighted that the voices now urging Sir Keir to consider his future are “different – they are not the usual suspects,” suggesting a shift in the dynamics of support.

A former loyal Labour MP expressed a bleak outlook for Sir Keir, asserting that Mr Burnham could assume leadership without a contested election. “Andy has the potential to step in without a contest; he has a compelling narrative and is better positioned to build a broad coalition ahead of a general election,” they commented. Reports suggest that Mr Burnham enjoys the backing of nearly 300 MPs, with allies indicating that the scale of support could render a leadership “coronation” inevitable.

Cabinet ministers and Labour MPs are reportedly encouraging Sir Keir to outline a timetable for his departure rather than engage in a leadership contest. Five senior ministers, including Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, have privately raised this issue. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Ed Miliband have also previously urged him to step aside.

A government source conveyed to the BBC that it is “nuts” to believe Sir Keir could successfully challenge Mr Burnham in a leadership contest. Another Cabinet source expressed a desire to avoid witnessing the Prime Minister “humiliate himself” in such a scenario. Jonathan Reynolds, the Labour chief whip, has reportedly informed Sir Keir that there is increasing support among backbenchers for a structured transition to Mr Burnham.

A friend of the Prime Minister shared with The Observer: “He sees the realities. Stopping ‘chaos’ (as he rightly termed it) is no longer possible by staying in position, leaving only one viable option. I believe he has come to view stepping down as the dutiful choice for both the country and the party.”

Speculation has also arisen that Wes Streeting could consider stepping aside in favour of Mr Burnham in exchange for a Cabinet role, although sources close to Mr Streeting maintain that he is prepared to launch a leadership challenge. “He has a website, a launch video, and his slogan is ‘We Still Can,’” a campaign source revealed.

A Labour source indicated that both Mr Burnham and Mr Streeting are allowing Sir Keir time to arrive at a decision. “Both are giving Keir the space to reach the right conclusion: that contesting the challenge is not in his best interest, nor that of the party or the country. This approach is preferable to forcibly dragging him out.”

Despite the growing speculation, Downing Street sources insist that Sir Keir remains steadfast in his statement from Friday, asserting his intention to stay as Prime Minister and contest any leadership challenge. The Prime Minister is reportedly spending the weekend at Chequers with his wife, Lady Starmer, while he weighs his options.

As the political landscape shifts beneath him, Sir Keir Starmer finds himself at a critical juncture, faced with the challenging decision of whether to step aside for a new leader or to continue fighting for his position amidst dwindling support. The coming days will be pivotal in determining the future direction of the Labour Party and the leadership of its current Prime Minister.