Sir Keir Starmer to fight for power with rivals expected to declare leadership challenges

Health Secretary Wes Streeting confronted Sir Keir in Downing Street ahead of the King’s Speech yesterday morning, over the crisis engulfing Labour.

However, the pair’s crunch talks only lasted 20 minutes. The Cabinet minister is believed to have told allies he is preparing to quit Government today and run for the top job.

Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is due to make his first media appearance since the local elections on BBC radio.

Mr Burnham previously tried to throw his hat in the ring for a return to Westminster and stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election earlier this year, however Sir Keir blocked him.

It is understood that he has found a new constituency to run in, with a Labour MP prepared to relinquish their seat to allow Mr Burnham to run for the leadership.

On a slightly surreal day in Westminster yesterday, Charles III made the King’s Speech which unveils the Government’s legislative plans for the next parliamentary session.

However, this was overshadowed by almost 100 Labour MPs calling for Sir Keir to set out a timetable to stand down following disastrous local election results.

Reports of Mr Streeting’s plan to resign emerged shortly before the King’s Speech.

Asked whether the Prime Minister still has confidence in the Health Secretary, his spokesman told reporters: “Yes,” confirming he was still in post.

The official declined to “get into the content of internal meetings” when asked for details of what was discussed, adding: “But the Prime Minister has full confidence in the Health Secretary.”

The spokesman evaded a question on whether Mr Streeting would remain Health Secretary for the rest of the week, reiterating instead that Sir Keir has “full confidence” in him.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch used the King’s Speech debate to mock Sir Keir for being “in office, but not in power”.

“It is clear his authority has gone and that he will not be able to deliver what little there is in this King’s Speech,” she said.

The Labour leader did not react as she spoke, but used his turn to joke about the leadership plotting.

He said backbencher Naz Shah’s book had a list of endorsements “reaching well over 100 members”, adding “at last, a list that we could all get behind”

Mr Streeting, sitting on the front bench, albeit at some distance from the Prime Minister, could be seen laughing along to his jokes.

His team failed to deny claims he was poised to quit and the minister posted on X on Wednesday as if business were carrying on as usual, talking up the Government’s record on the NHS and saying nothing of the turmoil within the party.

Unlike other senior ministers, he did not take to social media to reiterate his support for the Prime Minister on Tuesday nor did he stop to voice his backing for Sir Keir as he left the weekly Cabinet meeting that morning.

Cabinet ministers, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, were seen working the tearooms for MPs after the King’s Speech to try and shore up support for Sir Keir.

Ms Reeves pulled out of an event she was due to attend in Leeds today, the Treasury confirmed, citing diary changes.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn told Sky News that Labour MPs should “rally behind the Prime Minister”.