Asked about Streeting’s threat, Sir Keir said: “There is Westminster talk about what might happen in by-elections. <\/p>\n
“Meanwhile, I would just gently point out, that we do have a Manchester mayoralty by-election which will follow immediately on if Andy Burnham wins the by-election.<\/p>\n
“I hope he wins, but we then tip straight into the Manchester mayoralty by-election\u2026 so we’re all going to have to focus on that.”<\/p>\n
The prime minister’s comments are a preview of the argument he is likely to make on Friday should Burnham win in Makerfield. <\/p>\n
Some Labour MPs fear that Reform UK could win the Manchester mayoral by-election, even though when it was last contested in 2024 Burnham won by a vast margin.<\/p>\n
Burnham’s supporters say that the importance of the mayoralty only strengthens the case for him to become prime minister sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on his leadership more widely, Sir Keir said being prime minister “is the privilege of my life, and every day I remind myself that that is an honour.<\/p>\n
“It is a duty, and I’m here to serve, that is why I came into politics.<\/p>\n
“Not a day goes by where I don’t remind myself it’s a privilege.”<\/p>\n
Asked if, in the event of a leadership contest, ministers would have to resign if they wanted to back one of the prime minister’s rivals, Sir Keir said he would not “start getting involved in hypotheticals”. <\/p>\n
Sir Keir’s leadership was further destabilised last week when John Healey and Al Carns resigned as the defence secretary and defence minister in a row over funding.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, the chief of the defence staff warned<\/a> that the UK’s armed forces would have to “dial back” training and operations if they did not receive more money than is currently being offered. <\/p>\n Sir Keir said the new Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis was “looking at what his priorities and capabilities are” adding: “I think the chief of the defence staff made it clear that those discussions were ongoing.”<\/p>\n