Starmer must set out timetable to step down as soon as Makerfield by-election result revealed, Streeting says

Starmer must make plans to resign as soon as Makerfield by-election result revealed, Streeting says Former health secretary said he had ‘no doubt’ there would be a Labour leadership contest as he said he hopes Andy Burnham wins a seat in Parliament later this week - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Wes Starmer has urged Keir Starmer to set the date of his departure from Downing Street on Friday morning in the wake of the Makerfield by-election result. The would-be prime minister also said he had “no doubt” there would be a Labour leadership contest, even if Sir Keir refused to go, as he insisted he had the support of the 80-odd MPs necessary to be on the ballot paper. Mr Streeting said he hopes Andy Burnham, another leading rival to replace Sir Keir, wins the by-election, allowing him to return to Parliament and challenge the Labour leader. He added: “I would hope that after Thursday's by-election, when the results are in… I hope the prime minister will at that stage reflect on his own position and set out a timetable. “I think that would be a better way forward for everyone.” His call came as he made a speech in central London setting out his pitch to be PM, in which he ruled out an early general election, backed the triple lock on pensions and praised a former Tory chancellor. Mr Streeting has faced questions about the level of his support among MPs since he failed to trigger a contest when he resigned from Sir Keir’s cabinet last month. He insisted he had wanted to wait for the by-election result as “one of the inevitable candidates is on the ballot paper. And had I tried to pull a fast one and get ahead of Andy Burnham before he came back, I think that would have been foul play.” Pushed on whether he would trigger a contest after the Makerfield result, he said he had “no doubt” that a leadership election would happen. And he said that Sir Keir’s legacy would be as the leader that “saved the Labour Party from oblivion” after the Jeremy Corbyn years. This is a breaking news story, more follows ... Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments