Three out of four people suggested Reynolds had urged the Prime Minister to accept widespread demands to set a timetable for his departure. However, a fourth person said this characterization of the meeting was incorrect. Number 10 and Reynolds’ team declined to comment.
A fifth person, an MP, said they had been told before the Downing Street meeting that Reynolds was preparing to have a “frank discussion” with Starmer.
On Friday, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the Prime Minister during her round of Cabinet that she needed to set a timetable, as it was first reported by the Financial Times. POLITICO confirmed the account with a person familiar with the conversation between the loyalist, who is nonetheless close to Burnham.
Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, and Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, have both previously urged the prime minister to set a timetable for his departure.
Calls between Starmer and other senior ministers are planned for the weekend.
The Prime Minister has insisted he will fight back after Burnham secures a landslide victory that will take him back to Westminster – a move the Manchester Lord Mayor took specifically with the aim of returning to challenge Starmer, who has been weakened by repeated political mistakes and heavy losses in recent local elections, for the national leadership.
