Leigh MP Jo Platt urges prime minister to resign with 'orderly transition of leadership'
A second Wigan borough MP has called for the prime minister to announce a “timetable for his resignation”.
Sir Keir Starmer has been under pressure to step down following Thursday’s election results, but so far he has been insistent that he will not walk away.
He faces an extraordinary weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, with senior ministers split over how best to move forward and concerns among some about plunging the party into a potential leadership contest.
So far 75 out of Labour’s 403 MPs have demanded the prime minister stand down, with Makerfield MP Josh Simons among the first as he called for an “orderly transition to a new prime minister” on Sunday.
Wigan MP Lisa Nandy backed Sir Keir yesterday as she urged members of the Labour party to support him.
Now, Leigh and Atherton MP Jo Platt has added her voice to those asking the prime minister to step down.
She described Sir Keir as an “honourable man” but said people did not feel change was happening quickly enough.
Ms Platt said: “As a movement we cannot progress under this leadership. That is why I am calling on the prime minister to announce a clear and measured timetable for his resignation, with an orderly transition of leadership to take place by September. This must not be a moment of chaos, but a moment of honesty, renewal and democratic accountability.”
She also joined calls for Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to be allowed to stand for election, as people look to him as a possible new leader for the Labour Party.
Yesterday Ms Nandy said the decision to block him from contesting a parliamentary by-election earlier this year was “a mistake”, while former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner – herself regarded as a potential leadership contender – said the decision to block Mr Burnham should be “put right”.
Ms Platt, who succeeded Mr Burnham when he stood down as MP for Leigh in 2017, said: “I also believe the National Executive Committee should allow Andy Burnham to stand, so that members and supporters can have a genuine choice about the future direction of the Labour Party.”