Starmer should set out timetable for his departure if Burnham wins byelection, Streeting says – UK politics live

Peter Walker is a Guardian senior political correspondent. Keir Starmer should set a timetable for his departure if Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield byelection on Thursday rather than battle to stay in Downing Street, Wes Streeting has said. Answering questions after his speech on the economy (see 10.44am and 11.32am ), Streeting reaffirmed that he would fight in any leadership battle, and insisted he has the necessary support among Labour MPs, but refused to say whether he would trigger a contest. He said: double quotation mark I would hope that after Thursday’s byelection, when the results are in, and I very much hope Andy Burnham wins ... I hope the prime minister will at that stage reflect on his own position and set out a timetable. I think that would be a better way forward for everyone and would enable that better culture that we aspire to. When he resigned as health secretary last month, Streeting had been expected to trigger a leadership contest himself, and the fact he did not prompted opponents to assume he did not have the backing of the 80 other Labour MPs needed to trigger the process. Asked if he did now, Streeting replied: “Yes, I have the support I need to be on the ballot.” However, he refused to say whether he might seek to trigger it next week. He said: double quotation mark I think I’ve been extremely clear about this. I think there should be a contest. I have every intention of standing in that contest, and I’ve not triggered a contest, because we’ve got a byelection under way where one of the inevitable candidates is on the ballot paper. To have sought a contest before Burnham was potentially back in parliament would be to “pull a fast one”, Streeting argued. Wes Streeting giving his speech at No 1 Tower Place West in central London. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA