Politics Home Article | PM Is Now Reflecting On “Political Realities”, Admits Cabinet Ally

Starmer is reportedly considering resigning on Monday (Alamy)

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Business Secretary Peter Kyle said he had a “thoughtful conversation” with the Prime Minister on Friday in which Starmer asked for his view on what his next steps should be.

Speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg this morning, Kyle also said that he was not going to be “delusional” about the situation Starmer is in, admitting that he did not know “full fact” what the next few days would bring. 

Kyle said that the conversation he had had with the PM on Friday was “very thoughtful” and “professional”: “[Starmer] led through a conversation about the challenges our country faces, about the political issues which are unfolding at the moment, and asked my views.”

The cabinet minister did not deny that Starmer could agree to stand down.

Asked by Kuenssberg if it was still the case that Starmer would fight any leadership challenge, as he insisted on Friday, Kyle said the PM was “fighting for our country”.

“He’s also making time this weekend to try and reflect on the political challenges that he faces, our country faces, our party faces.

Asked again if the PM would fight a leadership challenge, Kyle said: “These are decisions for Keir to make, and that’s why I said that he is taking the time, as well as dealing with all the issues that a Prime Minister deals with over a weekend, a very busy weekend, he’s also taking the time to think through what the political realities are today compared to last week, the week before.”

The Observer has reported that Starmer will announce a resignation plan on Monday amid growing pressure from Labour MPs.

The PM has repeatedly insisted he would fight any challenge against his leadership.

However, Andy Burnham’s landslide victory in the Makerfield by-election on Thursday has put greater pressure on Starmer’s position, with large numbers of Labour MPs pushing for Burnham to take over.

Sky News reported this morning that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper had told Starmer to stand down. Several cabinet ministers, including former Labour leader Ed Miliband, are also reported to have encouraged Starmer to set out a resignation timetable.

Former minister Jess Phillips told Kuenssberg that it felt like “we have come to the end of the road”.

However, while some in Labour would like to see Burnham become leader unchallenged, PoliticsHome reported on Friday that there are some who remain loyal to Starmer who would put forward their own candidate and trigger a leadership contest if that PM did not stand. 

Burnham, who must resign as Manchester mayor now that he is an MP, will arrive in Westminster on Monday and is expected to meet with Labour MPs as part of his push for No 10.

Former defence secretary and Labour peer Lord Hutton told Kuenssberg that it would be important for Starmer’s successor to have a proper plan in place, warning that “personality politics will get you to the end of the day but not to the end of a five-year government.”

Hutton said that Burnham needed to “map out” clearly how he would tackle the issues facing the country, as “the challenges would be the same”.

He also admitted that it would be “a challenge” for Burnham to replace Starmer without going to the polls for a general election.