Arch-Starmer loyalist and Chief Secretary to the PM Darren Jones is on the broadcast round suggesting that Starmer may resign. He told Times Radio:
“He’s listening to colleagues, and he’s talking to colleagues… I can’t say what decision he may or may not take. I’m not going to get ahead of the prime minister’s decision.”
He added that the King’s Speech will go ahead as planned and “the vast majority of ministers and cabinet colleagues” want him to stay, compared to the “significant minority” who think don’t. He also said Starmer is “still the prime minister, he still commands a majority of the House”…
Jones told Sky News the government is “getting on with the job.” Pressed on whether Starmer would resign he said:
“I’m not going to get ahead of any decision the PM may or may not take in the future… I’m sad we are in this situation in the first place.”
Cabinet is at 9:30 a.m…
Paula Barker, Liverpool Wavertree MP backing Andy Burnham, told Times Radio there wouldn’t be trouble from the markets under Burnham:
“The markets will have to fall in line.”