Starmer no – Justice secretary and deputy prime minister David Lammy says Keir Starmer will not set out any timetable for leaving Downing Street, as Labour faces a fresh leadership conversation linked to next month’s Makerfield byelection. Lammy also criticised recent inte
Keir Starmer will not be given—or set—a timetable for leaving Downing Street, one of his closest allies has insisted as Labour’s leadership speculation flares again ahead of a looming byelection.
David Lammy. the justice secretary and deputy prime minister. told Sky News: “There will be no timetable for departure.” He added: “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.”
Lammy said the priority is “getting on with the business of government”, describing Starmer’s message as “really crystal clear”. “At the moment, there is no contest. What there is, is his determination to deliver for the people,” he said.
The remarks come as allies of Starmer have floated the idea that he could step aside if Andy Burnham wins next month’s Makerfield byelection and no other challenger emerges. Lammy said this was not being considered, while also pointing to the political strain created by last week’s internal moves.
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 Burnham wins against an expected strong challenger from Reform UK, he is likely to challenge for the leadership.
Lammy said Burnham would “be a great addition to parliament”, and that he would travel to the constituency—on the edge of Wigan in Greater Manchester—to campaign for him.
But Lammy also lamented the “week of internal wrangling” around Simons’s resignation and another leadership bid that did not materialise.. He said another potential challenger. Wes Streeting. resigned as health secretary after seemingly failing to gather enough support from MPs to make a direct leadership bid.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat this. I thought that the Labour party over the last 10 days had a spectacular own goal after those local election results. ” Lammy said.. “We now need to unite and pull together.. We have a byelection to fight.. We need to remember our responsibilities as a government.. We are not in opposition.. We have the levers of power.”
Reform UK is expected to campaign heavily on Makerfield amid speculation that Labour might consider reversing Brexit.. That campaign angle is tied to comments Streeting made during a speech on Saturday. saying Britain’s long-term future lay in rejoining the union.. Culture secretary Lisa Nandy dismissed the remarks as “odd”.
When asked about the debate, Lammy said he was proud that, during his time as foreign secretary, he had resumed closer collaboration with EU nations, removed many trade barriers on food and agriculture products, and brought the UK back into the Erasmus student exchange scheme.
Asked about Streeting’s comments, Lammy said the government’s “red lines” remain in place: not putting the UK back into the EU’s customs union or single market, “let alone full membership”. He added: “I’m not going to make a commitment about the next election.”
Pressed on whether he personally would like the UK to rejoin one day, Lammy said: “I’m committed to collective responsibility, the manifesto we stood on. Wes Streeting has left the government. He can have a debate, he can comment. That is not my position.”
The pattern in Lammy’s message is direct: as momentum builds around Makerfield—through Simons stepping down for Burnham. and Streeting’s departure tied to leadership attempts—he keeps insisting there is “no timetable” for Starmer. while pointing to Labour needing to focus on winning the byelection rather than settling internal questions.
For now, Starmer’s inner circle is trying to shift the conversation away from leadership timing and back towards government work, even as the political chessboard around the Makerfield contest is set for close attention and, possibly, another leadership challenge after the result.
Keir Starmer David Lammy Labour leadership Downing Street Makerfield byelection Andy Burnham Josh Simons Wes Streeting Reform UK Brexit Erasmus Lisa Nandy Sky News