Former British Health Minister Wes Streeting told the BBC he would be prepared to trigger a Labour leadership contest to replace Keir Starmer as Prime Minister as soon as next week, urging a speedy end to the "uncertainty and paralysis".
Streeting, who has said he has the backing of the 81 Labour lawmakers which are needed to trigger a challenge, told BBC Newsnight that he thought a contest should be initiated sooner rather than later.
The Labour Party is waiting to see if Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, can win a local election in Makerfield on Thursday to return to parliament, where he would become the frontrunner in any challenge to Starmer.
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"I think the prime minister should be given some space and time to reflect over the weekend and I think we should see where we are then," Streeting said.
Starmer has repeatedly said he would fight to keep his job and that a leadership contest was not the right thing for the country. Streeting disagreed.
"We can't carry on with this uncertainty and paralysis," he said.
"I would prefer the PM to take a decision on his own terms rather than leave it for me or Andy or anyone else to trigger a contest."
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Streeting quit last month in protest at the prime minister's record, turning up the heat on Starmer, and leading to speculation that a leadership challenge was likely in the coming months.
In a further blow to Starmer's authority, the highly respected defence minister, John Healey, resigned last week, accompanied by a scathing critique of Starmer's record in allocating funds to increase defence spending.
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