Starmer warns leadership contest would 'plunge us into chaos' in pleas to ministers and MPs

The language echoes Sir Keir's attempted reset speech on Monday, when the prime minister said "incremental change won't cut it" and promised to "face up to the big challenges" the country faced.

But the prime minister failed to convince many of his MPs that his leadership matches the boldness they believe voters expect from a Labour government.

Speaking in the Commons, Labour MP Jonathan Brash said Sir Keir could not offer the "hope" which the public was "desperate for".

"Some people will say this is about personality," Brash said. "It is not, it's about policy and whether we are prepared to meet the moment with the scale of change it demands."

Brash is one of the more than 80 Labour MPs who have urged Sir Keir to resign immediately or announce a timetable for his departure.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch responded to the King's Speech on Wednesday, leaving Labour MPs stony-faced with a string of blistering criticisms of their party's record in government and the prime minister's leadership.

Badenoch said Sir Keir was "in office, but not in power", arguing it was clear "he will not be able to deliver what little there is in this King's Speech".

Turning to Streeting, who was sitting alongside other cabinet ministers on the front benches, Badenoch mocked the health secretary about his leadership ambitions, saying he "has been a bit distracted lately".

"There's no point in giving me dirty looks," Badenoch said. "We all know what he's been up to."

On Wednesday evening, cabinet ministers were working the tearoom and attempting to persuade colleagues a leadership election would "paralyse the ability of the government to get things done for months", and "cause chaos".

Streeting's next move is highly anticipated but there are also other senior Labour politicians who are known to have ambitions to become party leader.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has strong support from Labour MPs and polls suggest he is the most popular Labour politician with voters.

But Burnham is not currently an MP and it would be a tall order for him to get back into the House of Commons, a process that involves winning a parliamentary by-election.

He did apply to be Labour's candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election earlier this year but was blocked by Sir Keir's allies on the party's ruling body.

Multiple MPs - including Afzal Khan and Jeff Smith - have denied preparing to stand down to allow Burnham to attempt to return to Parliament.

Burnham has pulled out of his regular phone-in radio slot on BBC Radio Manchester on Thursday, as speculation mounted over a potential challenge to Sir Keir's leadership.

A spokesperson for Burnham told the BBC: "As you know, Andy doesn't like to miss the Hot Seat.

"But this week, to get the best deal for Greater Manchester, he has to prioritise discussions arising from last week's local elections."

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