Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has firmly stated that Prime Minister Keir Starmer will not be setting out a timetable for his departure, describing him as 'the most resilient person I've known in my life.' This comes amid mounting pressure from dozens of Labour MPs who have called for Starmer to step down following a series of resignations and poor local election results.
Lammy's Strong Defence of Starmer
Speaking to Sky News, Lammy doubled down on Starmer's position, saying: 'Let me be really clear. Keir Starmer remains the most resilient person I've known in my life. I spoke to him twice yesterday. He has a strength of character, a fighting experience - there will be no timetables. What there is, is getting on with the business of government. Really crystal clear about that.'
Lammy emphasised that there is currently no contest for the leadership, asserting that Starmer's focus is on delivering for the British people and accelerating the pace of government over the coming months. He reiterated: 'There will be no timetable for departure.'
Growing Pressure and Resignations
Starmer's leadership is under threat, with a long list of Labour backbenchers demanding his resignation. In a frantic week, five ministers stepped down, including former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Jess Phillips, Zubir Ahmed, Alex Davies-Jones, and Miatta Fahnbulleh. This exodus dealt a significant blow to his authority.
The situation is further complicated by an upcoming by-election in Makerfield, where Andy Burnham is bidding to return to Parliament. If Burnham wins, he is expected to launch a leadership challenge. Wes Streeting has also indicated he will stand if a contest is triggered. A candidate would need the support of at least 81 MPs to launch a leadership bid.
Mixed Signals from Cabinet
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy appeared to deviate from the government line on Sunday, stating that it would be a 'very personal decision' for Starmer whether to stand against rivals if a leadership challenge is launched. She told the BBC: 'So, I wouldn't write off the Prime Minister, but I would just say that this is a very personal decision. He's got to make that decision himself.'
When asked whether Starmer's supporters should back Andy Burnham in the by-election, Lammy urged the party to focus on its responsibilities. He said: 'Let's step back. I'm not going to sugarcoat this, I thought that the Labour Party over the last 10 days had a spectacular own goal after those local election results. We have a by-election to fight. We need to remember our responsibilities as a government.'
Lammy added: 'We are not in opposition, we have the levers of power. Today I'm talking about the new justice white paper, last week we had the King's Speech. I want us to see those leasehold reforms, I want to see us standing by people in the cost-of-living crisis. All of that will be discussed on the doorstep in Makerfield.'
He concluded by warning that if the party does not end its internal strife, it could face electoral defeat: 'We need to ensure that these 10 days are brought to an end, because if we get 10 weeks, people will look at us, they will see what happened under the Tories, and we will be out of office in a few years' time.'
