At a glance: Starmer grapples with leadership crisis

Sir Keir Starmer is fighting to stay on as prime minister, as he stares down calls from Labour critics for him to leave Downing Street.

Four members of his government, including Home Office minister Jess Phillips, have resigned, whilst scores of Labour MPs are calling for him to quit following a disastrous set of elections for the party last week.

Here is a summary of what is happening.

-What’s happened today?-

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Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is among a number of cabinet ministers urging the prime minister to set out a departure timetable.

But at his weekly cabinet meeting earlier, Sir Keir said he does not intend to quit and threw down the gauntlet to potential rivals to formally challenge him as Labour leader.

No MP has yet launched a formal bid to challenge Sir Keir – a move requiring the backing of 81 colleagues, or 20% of Labour MPs, according to party rules.

After the meeting, key allies including Housing Secretary Steve Reed and Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden told journalists they were continuing to back Sir Keir.

But Health Secretary Wes Streeting, seen as a likely leadership rival, made no comment to reporters as he left Downing Street.

He is due to meet the prime minister on Wednesday morning ahead of the King’s Speech.

Foreign Office Minister Jenny Chapman, another Starmer ally, acknowledged a “discussion is taking place” over the PM’s leadership, but told reporters no minister challenged him at the cabinet table.

-What’s the mood in the party?-

More than 80 Labour MPs have publicly urged Sir Keir to resign immediately or draw up an exit timetable.

Four ministers – Jess Phillips, Zubir Ahmed, Alex Davies-Jones and Miatta Fahnbulleh – have resigned from the government.

Six ministerial aides quit on Monday and have since been replaced.

Several sources have told the BBC more resignations are expected.

The BBC has also been told more than 100 Labour MPs have signed a statement saying: “This is no time for a leadership contest”, and urging colleagues to “focus” on the job.

Along with Streeting, former deputy PM Angela Rayner is seen as the most likely challenger to Sir Keir among Labour MPs.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham also has support – but would need to become an MP to stand for leader, requiring a more drawn-out contest.

-How did we get here?-

The prime minister gave a hastily-convened speech on Monday in a bid to shore up his position.

But the move seems to have backfired, with the number of Labour MPs calling on him to go rising steadily in the hours afterwards.

The revolt among MPs follows a disastrous set of elections for Labour last week, where it lost almost 1,500 councillors in local elections across England.

It was also kicked out of power in Wales and slumped to its worst ever result at a Scottish Parliament election.

The elections had been billed as a key test for Sir Keir’s leadership amid dire poll ratings and the row over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, which has led some MPs to question his judgement.

[BBC]