UK HEALTH SECRETARY Wes Streeting spent just 16 minutes inside Downing Street this morning for what were billed as crunch talks with Keir Starmer, as he eyes a bid to challenge the British prime minister’s leadership. 

Streeting did not speak to reporters on his way in or out of Number 10.

Starmer has so far managed to see off an immediate threat to his leadership, despite ministerial resignations and at least 80 MPs calling for him to quit. 

Today’s State Opening of Parliament has put somewhat of a pause on talk of Starmer’s position, with further resignations unlikely so as not to overshadow King Charles’s speech.

However, The Times and the Daily Telegraph are reporting that Streeting is preparing to resign and will trigger a leadership contest, which could begin on Thursday. 

Labour’s affiliated unions have called for a plan to be put in place for the election of a new leader of the 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.”

Meanwhile, the SNP has said it will seek to force a vote on Starmer’s future in an amendment to the King’s Speech.

New SNP Westminster leader Dave Doogan said: “If the Labour Cabinet ministers don’t have the decency to do the right thing – then Parliament must.

“Unless they put an end to this chaos now, the SNP will table a motion of no confidence in Keir Starmer to draw things to a close.”

The Labour leader’s camp has suggested there is no consensus in the party about having a leadership contest.

Cabinet office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told broadcasters the week so far had been “turbulent” for the 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.

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“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.”

Streeting is among several Labour figures said to have ambitions to succeed Starmer.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, a leading figure from the soft-left of the party widely seen as a contender, would first need an MP willing to stand aside so he could fight a byelection and chart a path back to the House of Commons. 

Sources close to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband have denied reports that he is preparing to run if Streeting triggers a contest.

Starmer has sought to push on, already having replaced four ministers – including prominent MP Jess Phillips and health minister Zubir Ahmed, an ally of Streeting – who quit the government and called for Starmer to stand down.