With Wes Streeting’s resignation, and Andy Burnham plotting a return to Westminster, Keir Starmer could very soon have a leadership challenge on his hands.
But how can a leadership contest be triggered, and what are the rules? ITV News explains.
To mount a leadership contest, 20% of the party’s MPs — or 81 colleagues — need to back a replacement candidate first.
Once the leadership contest is triggered, other candidates can join the race if they also have the backing of at least 81 MPs. Starmer, however, will automatically be on the ballot paper.
He would also continue in the role while the contest was in progress.
In Labour’s 126-year history, there has never been an official leadership challenge mounted at a sitting prime minsiter.
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