Starmer faces ultimatum: Quit by Tuesday or be humiliated
Starmer claimed he would fight a challenge on Friday morning, following the sweeping victory of Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election
The debate over Starmer's position continues, with rumours that the Prime Minister faces a deadline of Tuesday morning's cabinet meeting to set a timetable for his departure.
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It comes after Sir Keir insisted he would fight any leadership contest, with Downing Street denying reports he has plans to step down from his role.
Starmer claimed he would face off any challenge on Friday morning, following the sweeping victory of elected Labour MP Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election.
Yet around a quarter of the Parliamentary Labour Party - about 100 Labour MPs - are now calling publicly and explicitly for Starmer to go.
Speaking on LBC's Sunday's with Lewis Goodall, business secretary Peter Kyle said despite the pressure, Starmer was "getting on with the job".
"This weekend he is cracking on with the job, and he told me that he wanted to not only do all the things a Prime Minister does do at the weekend, which is a busy time.
He also wants to create the space where he can think through the political challenges and opportunities of the moment that we're in. And I think he will make those decisions and the coming days will speak for themselves.
"So I'm not going to deny the political challenges that he faces in this moment, but what I'm also not going to do is say there is ever anything inevitable about the days ahead," he added.
The comment comes amid reports quoting a senior source, claiming Sir Keir "has until Tuesday morning’s cabinet meeting to provide a timetable for his departure."
"It’s his final chance to go gracefully and with some dignity, otherwise it will be brutal and humiliating for him.”
Amongst the rumours are claims that Mr Burnham's allies are plotting a "coronation" rather than a contest, with Labour MPs being called to support to the former Greater Manchester mayor.
It is understood that former health secretary Wes Streeting has also been urged to strike a deal to avoid a contest, with speculation that he could be named as chancellor if he agrees not to run.
Sir Keir is understood to have spoken to a number of Cabinet ministers on Friday, some of whom are reported to have told him he should set out a timetable for his departure.
Some MPs who had signed a statement rejecting calls for a leadership election last month have now reversed their position, while others say it's up to Starmer to decide whether his exit is toxic.
Some in Westminster believe a contest could begin as early as next week - but others favour a longer wait to allow Mr Burnham to prepare for government.
However, there is concern by some that nobody knows what Mr Burnham would actually do once in office, and the British public deserve to have their say on who will be the next Prime Minister.
Peter Swallow, one of more than 100 MPs who signed a letter backing Sir Keir just last month, is among those who have withdrawn support.
The Bracknell MP said that “it is now the right time for the Prime Minister to resign and hand over to someone else” and said he would be “backing Andy”.
Meanwhile, former home secretary Alan Johnson told LBC that the Prime Minister now has to step aside.
He said: “I’d say it’s over, Keir. And listen, he’s a bright guy. He knows it’s over. He will forever be in the history books as the man who turned us around, Labour, from the second-worst result in our history to the second best result in our history in one five-year period.”