Sir Keir Starmer has affirmed he will not resign as Prime Minister despite facing significant pressure from Labour backbenchers following bruising local election results, with some calling for him to set a departure timetable.
How a leadership contest is triggered
A Labour leadership contest could be triggered if a challenger secures the support of 81 Members of Parliament, representing 20% of the party in the Commons, or if Sir Keir voluntarily steps down. Should a challenge be mounted, Sir Keir would automatically be included on the ballot as the incumbent leader, without needing to gather nominations himself.
Timeline and process
The timeline for any potential contest would be determined by the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee, with previous contests, such as the one following Jeremy Corbyn's resignation, taking several months to conclude.
Potential successors
While there is no clear successor, potential contenders include Angela Rayner, whose tax affairs are under review, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who is not currently an MP, and Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
In full: Starmer speech latest: More than 40 Labour MPs call on PM to quit as speech fails to quell rebellion.
