Wes Streeting has been to Downing Street for crunch talks this morning as the British Prime Minister faces calls to resign.
The UK Health Secretary was inside for less than 20 minutes and did not speak to reporters on his way in or out.
The talks with Streeting, seen as one of the key rivals for the Labour leadership, come after Starmer has so far managed to see off an immediate threat this week despite ministerial resignations and at least 80 MPs calling for him to quit.
But on Wednesday morning, unions pulled their support, saying it is clear that Starmer will not lead Labour into the next election.
Starmer’s camp has suggested there is no consensus in Labour about having a leadership contest.
Cabinet office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told broadcasters Monday had been “turbulent” for the UK Prime Minister, but that MPs had not united behind a candidate to trigger a contest, adding “we are moving on”.
He insisted the two were “having a coffee” and dismissed that it was a showdown over Starmer’s leadership.
“Anyone would think we were talking about the final scene at a Casino Royale or something, looking at some of the coverage that we’ve had,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
He earlier told BBC Breakfast: “There is no contest for the leadership of the Labour Party.
“There’s a very clear way to do that under our rules of 81 people nominating an alternative candidate. That hasn’t happened.
“The contest hasn’t been triggered. We are moving on. I’m not saying yesterday wasn’t turbulent. It evidently was, but we are moving, getting on with delivery.”
UK long-term borrowing costs meanwhile eased back after reaching a 28-year high on Tuesday as Starmer continues to defy calls to stand down.
However, Labour’s affiliated unions have called for a plan to be put in place for the election of a new leader of the Labour Party.
A statement from the TULO group, which represents 11 unions, said Labour “cannot continue on its current path”.
The unions, including Unite, Unison and the GMB, said: “It’s clear that the Prime Minister will not lead Labour into the next election, and at some stage a plan will have to be put in place for the election of a new Leader.”
