Starmer-Burnham latest: PM reportedly ‘resigned’ to stepping down as over 100 MPs call for him to quit

US president Donald Trump has said that Sir Keir Starmer “will resign” as prime minister, accusing him of “failing badly” on immigration and energy.

Writing on social media platform Truth Social on Sunday, Mr Trump said: “Keir Starmer will resign as prime minister of the United Kingdom. He failed badly on two very important subjects – immigration and energy (Open North Sea oil!). I wish him well! President DJT”.

The post is thought to be based on media reports as the two have not spoken this weekend.

President Donald Trump has said that Sir Keir Starmer will resign following what he called failures on immigration and energy.

“Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom,” he wrote on Truth Social on Sunday.

“He failed badly on two very important subjects- IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well! President DJT”.

Andy Burnham is seizing his second chance to change history. That’s just as well, because the first time, he bottled it.

Purnell and Burnham were close friends. They had both been special advisers in the Blair government, both parachuted into safe Labour seats in the northwest of England in their early thirties, both risen to cabinet before 40.

The Green Party has announced Geraldine Coggins as the mayoral candidate for Greater Manchester on Sunday.

Following Andy Burnham stepping down from the position to run for the Makerfield constituency, another by-election has been triggered for the position he filled.

Trafford counillor Coggins told reporters on Saturday that she believed that the race would be between the Greens and Reform and vowed to put “people and planet over profits”.

Business secretary Peter Kyle told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that the prime minister is reflecting on the realities of his political situation amid pressure to resign.

“The only thing I can say with fact is that the Prime Minister is hard at work, as he is every day,” he said.

“He is one of the most hardworking people I’ve ever come across, and today, as in every other day I’ve ever known Keir, he is out there working hard.

“At the same time he is also trying to create the space where he can think and reflect on the political realities and challenges, and the opportunities, that lie before us.”

He told the BBC that “whatever unfolds” in the coming days will be a “functional process”.

Keir Starmer is considering how and when to resign as he spends the weekend “thinking through the political realities” of his situation, tech secretary Peter Kyle has confirmed.

With reports swirling that he is planning to announce a timetable for his departure as early as Monday, the prime minister is holed up in his country residence Chequers taking soundings from ministers, friends, allies and his wife Victoria.

However, foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has told the prime minister this weekend that he should go, it is understood, repeating her demands from last month.

As in the legend that the fortress will fall if the ravens leave, the walls of protection that the prime minister has erected around himself in his constantly besieged premiership are about to come tumbling down.

And it is not just Tony Blair’s former lord chancellor telling the prime minister that his time is up, after Andy Burnham crushed Reform in Makerfield and now looks set to take over the party leadership and snatch the top job.

Labour MPs are being called to give their support to the former Greater Manchester mayor, while it is understood that approaches have been made to former health secretary Wes Streeting, urging him to strike a deal and not try to force a contest.

There is speculation that Mr Streeting could be named as chancellor if he agrees not to run against Mr Burnham – allowing the former mayor to take over from Sir Keir in September when parliament returns after the summer recess.

This came with speculation that Rachel Reeves would be sacked as chancellor by Mr Burnham who is seeking a new approach to economic policy.

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:

Sir Keir Starmer is facing “a hard deadline” of Tuesday morning’s cabinet meeting to step down, insiders say, after a senior Labour peer said the prime minister had “absolutely no authority” and should go.

As the Labour leader spent the weekend taking soundings from ministers and MPs, Downing Street denied reports on Saturday night that he is preparing to set a timetable for his departure as early as Monday.

A spokesperson pointed to his words of defiance on Friday when he insisted he would fight a challenge.

However, The Independent has learnt that allies of Andy Burnham are plotting to ensure he is installed as Labour leader quickly, in a coronation rather than a contest.