Starmer is not setting out timetable for his departure, says David Lammy

Keir Starmer is not about to set a timetable for his departure from Downing Street, David Lammy, one of the prime minister’s closest cabinet allies, has said, calling on Labour to get beyond the “spectacular own goal” of repeated leadership speculation.

While allies of Starmer have suggested he is potentially willing to step aside if Andy Burnham wins next month’s Makerfield byelection and no other challenger emerges, Lammy insisted this was not being considered.

“There will be no timetable for departure,” Lammy, who is justice secretary and deputy prime minister, told Sky News.

“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, [he is] really crystal clear about that. At the moment, there is no contest. What there is, is his determination to deliver for the people.”

Burnham is expected to be selected for the Makerfield contest after the sitting Labour MP, Josh Simons, stepped down specifically so the Greater Manchester mayor could try to return to Westminster. If he wins against an expected strong challenger from Reform UK, he is likely to challenge for the leadership.

Burnham at the Everton v Sunderland Premier League match in Liverpool on Sunday. Photograph: Paul Currie/Shutterstock

Lammy said Burnham would “be a great addition to parliament”, and that he would go to the constituency, on the edge of Wigan in Greater Manchester, to campaign for him.

But he lamented the week of internal wrangling in which Simons stepped down and another potential challenger to Starmer, Wes Streeting, resigned as health secretary after seemingly failing to gather enough support from MPs to make a direct leadership bid.