At a glance: Starmer fights to stay on as prime minister

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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.

Supporters of Health Secretary Wes Streeting have told the BBC they expect him to launch a leadership challenge against the prime minister as soon as Thursday.

Earlier in the week four members of the government, including health minister – and Streeting ally – Zubir Ahmed resigned, whilst scores of Labour MPs are calling for Sir Keir to quit following a disastrous set of elections for the party last week.

Here is a summary of what is happening.

• Chancellor Rachel Reeves tells the BBC any Labour leadership contest would “plunge the country into chaos”
• Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner says she has been cleared by HMRC of wrongdoing over her tax affairs
• On Wednesday, the PM warned his ministers and MPs that a Labour leadership contest could result in “chaos”
• Streeting arrived at Downing Street for a meeting with Sir Keir on Wednesday morning – but left No 10 after less than 20 minutes
• Later in the day, the King outlined the government’s proposals for legislation in the coming months, in the King’s Speech
• The speech contained the outlines of 37 bills including proposals to introduce digital ID, nationalise British Steel and make changes to the NHS and police
• During the subsequent Commons debate, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Sir Keir had “run out of road”
• At the start of the week, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was among a group of cabinet ministers urging Sir Keir to set out a timetable for his departure
• 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

• 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
• More than 100 MPs have come out in support of the PM
• Along with Streeting, former deputy PM Rayner is seen as a 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

• 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.

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Keir StarmerLabour Party