‘There is no contest’: Lammy insists there is 'no timetable' for Starmer to resign as leadership battle sees EU row reignited
Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls to step down following big Labour losses in the local elections.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has insisted Sir Keir Starmer will not set out a timetable for his resignation, despite calls from within the Labour Party for him to stand down.
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Speaking with Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, Mr Lammy insisted Sir Keir is in "good spirits, fighting spirits" and will ensure they will win the by-election in Makerfield, following the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons.
Mr Simons announced he would resign and backed Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to return to Parliament. Mr Burnham later announced his intention to stand in the by-election.
The Deputy Prime Minister insisted that he will be campaigning to ensure that Labour wins the seat.
Asked by Nick whether a win for Mr Burnham would be a vote to remove Sir Keir as leader, Mr Lammy rejected the idea.
"A vote for Andy Burnham, if he is the candidate, is a vote for Labour in the Makerfield by-election," he insisted.
Read more: Pressure on Starmer ramps up as Burnham one step closer to challenge
Mr Lammy called Mr Burnham a "great politician" and said it would be "great" having him back in Parliament.
"So I will be supporting him. All of us will be supporting him. Because what we don't want is Reform winning in May," he added.
He also rejected the idea that Mr Burnham is trying to "usurp" the Prime Minister.
He said: 'Let's be clear. There is no contest. There's a lot of speculation about contest."
"We've had some own goals this week," he said. "We're in trouble. Let us get back to unifying and delivering on behalf of the British people."
Asked about the Prime Minister’s frame of mind, Mr Lammy said: “Let me be really clear, Keir Starmer remains the most resilient person I know 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."
Greater Manchester Mayor, Mr Burnham, was cleared to run for selection to be the candidate in the Makerfield by-election by the NEC.
Mr Burnham has said he is prepared to “fight to the highest level”, as he and other senior Labour figures jostle to lead the party in the future.
Wes Streeting has called for a “proper contest” to replace Sir Keir and confirmed he would stand if the race is triggered, as he and other senior Labour figures make their pitch to oust the Prime Minister.
In his first public appearance since resigning as health secretary, Mr Streeting set out a fledgling policy platform for a run at the Labour leadership.
He said Britain must pursue a “new special relationship” with the European Union and signalled he wanted to see the country rejoin the trade bloc in the future.
Mr Streeting is among the senior Labour figures to call for a debate over the future of the party’s soul, amid the crisis that has engulfed it after a bruising set of election results across England, Scotland and Wales.