Starmer must go before next election, say Labour-backing unions

Eleven unions which help fund the Labour Party believe "it is clear" Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will not lead the party into the next election.

The group, which includes Unite, Unison and GMB, added "at some stage" a plan will have to be put in place for the election of a new leader.

While they acknowledged "progress has been made" with employment law reforms and the minimum wage increase, the unions said they have been clear Labour "cannot continue on its current path".

Sir Keir, who pulled out of a meeting with the unions on Tuesday, has vowed to get on with governing and has repeatedly vowed to remain prime minister.

The 11 unions affiliated to Labour represent four million workers and met on Tuesday despite Sir Keir's absence.

It is understood the statement developed was a compromise as some unions wanted a timetable for Sir Keir's departure although two - Community and GMB - were wary of getting involved in leadership rows.

All agreed Sir Keir should go before the next election.

There are divisions in Sir Keir's cabinet and among his backbench MPs about the PM's future, with the statement from the unions likely to put further pressure on his position.

In the statement, the affiliated unions described the results at last week's elections in England, Scotland and Wales as "devastating".

They said: "Labour is not doing enough to deliver the change that working people voted for at the general election.

"Our focus is on the fundamental change of direction on economic policy and political strategy that unions have been clear is needed, and not on the personalities and unfolding political drama in Westminster.

"It's clear that the prime minister will not lead Labour into the next election, and at some stage a plan will have to be put in place for the election of a new leader."

They added "we are working closely as unions to shape a shared vision on policy, political strategy and economic policy that will re-orient Labour back to working people".

Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds acknowledged it has been "turbulent" for the prime minister but said there is "no contest for the leadership of the Labour Party".

He told BBC Breakfast: "There's a very clear way to do that under our rules of 81 people nominating an alternative candidate. That hasn't happened.

"The contest hasn't been triggered. We are moving on. I'm not saying yesterday wasn't turbulent. It evidently was, but we are moving, getting on with delivery."