Keir Starmer expected to announce resignation timetable, paving way for Burnham premiership – UK politics live

It’s still unclear whether there will be a leadership contest or an uncontested handover of powerStarmer expected to announce exit plan to clear way for Burnham to become PM‘A shift has taken place’: Starmer faces the music after weekend of reflectionJacqui Smith, the education minister, is doing a broadcast round this morning. Speaking to Times Radio, she said she “would have been happy for [Keir Starmer] to continue” – which sounded like a confirmation that Starmer will announce his resignation, but may just be confirmation that Smith has read the papers.She also said:My understanding from those I’ve spoken to who are close to the prime minister yesterday is that the prime minister has spent the weekend thinking really carefully about the future of the country, about what’s the best thing to do for the British people.He’s also, by the way, been of course engaged in government, responding to the terrible train crash, talking to the chief executive of the East Midlands ambulance service, responding to the attack in Edinburgh. Continue reading...