Keir Starmer live: Angela Rayner cleared by HMRC over taxes as Wes Streeting set to resign today

The Commons Leader has given his backing to the Prime Minister, insisting Sir Keir Starmer is “getting on with the job of governing”.

Sir Alan Campbell’s comments came after Jesse Norman, the Conservative shadow Commons leader, said there was “Westminster madness”, with “nearly 100” Labour members calling for the Prime Minister to set a public timetable for his departure.

Responding at Business Questions in the Commons on Thursday, Sir Alan said: “I would encourage him to stop doomscrolling.

“The Prime Minister and the Government are getting on with the job of governing, and this King’s Speech is spreading opportunity and building a fairer Britain.”

Keir Starmer was pictured this morning leaving Downing Street through the back entrance.

As Health Minister Wes Streeting looks set to resign, it's believed he stands poised to fight for the top spot as the Labour Party navigates a civil war.

Streeting, 43, has reportedly told allies he is preparing to resign from government and will be triggering a leadership contest as early as tomorrow. This follows a 16-minute crisis meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, whom 80 MPs have publicly called upon to resign after last week's woeful local election results.

Sir Keir has today asserted that he has "full confidence" in Streeting, but rumours continue to swirl. When approached by the Mirror, a spokesperson did not deny these whispers, diplomatically remarking, "Wes is the Health Secretary, he is proud of his record of falling waiting lists and a recovering NHS. He is not planning to say anything following his meeting with the Prime Minister that might distract from the King's Speech."

READ MORE: Inside life of Wes Streeting from wild pet shop rumours to jailbird grandparents

Ousting a Labour leader begins with MPs forcing a leadership election.

This requires 20% of the party's MPs to back a replacement candidate, which would mean 81 MPs as the Labour party has 403.

Once the leadership election is triggered, other candidates can join if they also have 81 backers.

The PM would not be required to have 81 backers as he would automatically be on the ballot if he chose to run, which Mr Starmer has said he will. Even if he did need backers, more than 110 MPs signed a letter supporting him this week.

Mr Starmer would continue as PM during the contest, and be the first Labour PM to ever face a leadership challenge.

Once a candidate has 81 backers, the National Executive Council (NEC) — Labour Party's ruling body — sets up a timetable for a full vote with party members.

In 2020, candidates had time to secure their nominations before a ballot took place over a six-week period.

Armed forces minister Al Carns is reportedly considering launching a leadership campaing should one be launched.

Sky News reported one of his allies hinted he could be preparing a bid.

When asked by the network about whether he would launch a leadership challenge, he said: "I'm just a humble junior minister."

Sir Mel Stride said the Prime Minister has shown himself to be someone “who’s really weak” with “no backbone and no authority”.

The shadow chancellor told the Press Association outside Parliament: “I think it’s very bad for the country that we’re seeing all this chaos and introspection within the Labour Party.

“I think whatever happens – whether it’s the Prime Minister surviving or somebody else taking over – unfortunately we can’t get away from a couple of inconvenient facts: one is that this Government has absolutely no plan, particularly on how to deal with the economy, and I don’t see that changing going forward.

“The second thing is that we see complete disarray amongst Labour backbenchers and a party in Parliament that’s incapable of taking the kind of tough decisions – like getting on top of the welfare bill, getting people back to work – that are required if we’re getting to a better place.”

He declined to say who he thought would be the frontrunner in a potential leadership challenge, saying: “These are matters for the Labour Party internally.”

Sir Mel added: “What we can’t get away from is we’re in a period of absolute chaos when our country is facing into some of the biggest challenges that it has faced in many years: of war in the Middle East, spiking oil prices, inflationary pressures, and yet we’ve got all of this noise… going on in Government, and we really need to get this settled down now.

“It’s down to the Prime Minister to try and do that but at the moment he’s shown himself as somebody who’s really weak and no backbone and no authority.”

Andy Burnham pulled out of a regular phone-in radio slot with BBC Radio Manchester this morning.

A spokesperson for Burnham told the BBC: "As you know, Andy doesn’t like to miss the Hotseat.

"But this week, to get the best deal for Greater Manchester, he has to prioritise discussions arising from last week’s local elections."

Elections in Manchester saw Labour thumped at the ballot box with Reform and the Green Party making significant gains.

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said there had been “twists and turns” in the Labour Party’s leadership “drama”, but stressed there was no bid as yet to oust the Prime Minister.

Mr Alexander said: “For all the headlines, there is a process by which a challenge to the Labour Party leadership can be conducted, and that process hasn’t been triggered.”

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme, the Scottish MP accepted “these are difficult days” for the party across the UK after last week’s poor election performance.

But he said the Prime Minister had been “clear” that he accepted responsibility for the “very bad set of results”.

Mr Alexander said: “The Prime Minister has my support, I am a member of the Cabinet.

“I think for all of the speculation, for all of the headlines, it’s worth holding on to the fact we’ve seen twists and turns in this drama even in recent days.

“There’s a process by which a challenge to the Labour Party leadership can be conducted, and that process simply hasn’t been triggered this morning.”

The Prime Minister’s Chief Secretary Darren Jones has arrived in Downing Street, where he did not stop to answer questions from reporters before heading in to No 10.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray said he hoped Wes Streeting would still be Health Secretary by the end of Thursday.

Asked whether Mr Streeting was still in post, amid speculation that he will quit, Mr Murray told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “He is the Health Secretary, and I hope he is the Health Secretary by the end of the day.”

Mr Murray also warned against a leadership contest, saying: “I would say to all colleagues, take a deep breath. Take a step back.

“Make sure that we recognise we’re less than two years into this Parliament. Look at what we’ve done so far. Look at the benefits of the stability that we brought to Government, make sure that we don’t go into a chaotic process of uncertainty, and make sure we focus on what people want us to be doing.”

Angela Rayner took to social media after the HMRC's decision to clear her of deliberate wrongdoing.

The Mirror's Assistant Political Editor Alexander Brown here....

Speaking to Wes Streeting allies last night, one, who has called for the PM to go, told me that he would be resigning today, but suggested that didn't guarantee he would challenge Keir Starmer.

They explained there was a strong belief something needed to change, but that didn't require starting a leadership contest yet. That would come as some relief to team Andy Burnham, who need to win a safe seat and be in parliament before any contest starts.

When asked about Angela Rayner’s case, HMRC said: “We cannot comment on individuals due to taxpayer confidentiality law.”

The Chancellor told reporters she would set out plans to support families and businesses struggling with the impact of war in the Middle East next week.

She said: “Very strong numbers today that show that the economy grew strongly in the first quarter of this year, showing decisively that this plan is the right one to get our economy growing in all parts of the country.

“And it shows that when this conflict in the Middle East started, our economy was growing strongly.

“This was not a war that we started. It is not a war that we have joined, and it’s not one that this Government agrees with.

“But today’s number shows that when that conflict began, our economy was growing strongly.

“And because of today’s numbers and the growth that we’ve seen in the economy, next week I will be able to set out more plans to support families and businesses with the challenges that have come from this conflict in the Middle East.

“I look forward to setting those out next week.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has warned of the risk to "economic stability" amid an expected challenge to Keir Starmer premiership.

Official figures showed the UK economy grew by 0.3 per cent in March, and 0.6 per cent in the first three months of this year. The growth marked a slowdown from a revised 0.4 per cent in February, and suggests the impact from the Middle East war is beginning to bite.

The figures were published by the Office for National Statistics against the backdrop of political turmoil, with health secretary Wes Streeting expected to resign ahead of challenging the PM for his premiership.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, seen as another potential challenger to Mr Starmer, says she has been cleared by HMRC of wrongdoing over her tax affairs.

READ MORE: Rachel Reeves warns 'now is not the time to put UK economic stability at risk' after UK economy GROWS

Backers of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham are lobbying the Labour National Executive Committee to hold an extended leadership election.

The extension would give Burnham enough time to return to Parliament, reports Politico political editor Dan Bloom.

He added: "They want a nomination period long enough for him to run in (and win) a by-election.

"It could stretch the entire contest to around 3 months."

The Mirror's Assistant Political Editor Alexander Brown here....

Angela Rayner being cleared of any wrongdoing is hugely significant moment not just for Keir Starmer's leadership, but the other other potential candidates as well.

Popular on the left of the party, if Ms Rayner were to run it could bleed support away from Andy Burnham. Not only does she have the benefit of already being an MP, but she has managed to erase a huge blot on her pitch in the tax scandal, something that was repeatedly coming up in focus groups.

It would also be a blow to Wes Streeting, who while popular within the parliamentary party, is not as well loved by the grassroots. Many Labour members despair at the direction of the party, and are more likely to back Ms Rayner over a Health Secretary they don't consider to be more left-wing than the PM.

It also dampens the prospect of Ed Miliband, who was being encouraged to run by MPs who want anyone but Mr Streeting. Mr Miliband was viewed as a possible candidate to do so, if Mr Burnham can't get into parliament in time.

It's also worth noting the restraint shown by Ms Rayner since her resignation. She has made few interventions, focusing on housing, immigration, and social care. By not being a frequent critic of the party her words carry more weight, and portray a focus on policy, rather than facitonalism.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said a leadership contest would plunge the country into 'chaos.'

Speaking with the BBC, she said any contest could harm the economy.

She continued: "We shouldn't put that at risk by plunging the country into chaos."

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said Labour MPs had an "important decision to make" as she spoke to reporters in Downing Street.

Asked if she was worried about the impact of a potential leadership race on the economic policies she has been working on these past few years, she said: "Labour MPs have got an important decision to make today, but the numbers show that the economy is growing and that when we entered this conflict, our economy was growing strongly because of the decisions that I have made as chancellor, we shouldn’t put that at risk."

Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray insisted Keir Starmer could win a future Labour leadership contest.

Asked whether he believed the Prime Minister would survive and fight a leadership election, he told Times Radio: “Yes. He’s said that, he said that on Monday in response to a question after his speech on Monday that he would if there were one.

“But I repeat my earlier point, I think having a leadership election would be the wrong choice for us to take.”

Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray is on the morning round, and claimed he would rather not talk about a leadership election.

He says: "I have come on as a Treasury minister and I'd really like to discuss the growth figures".

Angela Rayner has vowed to make a difference regardless of whether she runs for leader, but admitted the investigation into her underpayment of stamp duty, which led to her departure from Government, “clipped her wings”.

She said: “I’ll play my part in doing everything we possibly can to deliver the change, because it’s not a personal ambition, I know the difference it makes.”

Angela Rayner has said she has been cleared of deliberate wrongdoing in an investigation over her tax affairs, paving the way for a potential leadership bid.

In an interview with ITV, the former deputy Labour leader denied she had done a deal with potential leadership contender Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, whose path back to Westminster would be complicated by needing to fight and win a by-election, adding: “I am not doing deals.”

She said she wanted the party to “pull together” after days of turmoil but added she did not want to talk about “hypotheticals” when asked whether she would run in a future contest.