Streeting, who has said he has the backing of the 81 Labour lawmakers who are needed to ​trigger a challenge, told BBC Newsnight that he thought ​a contest should be initiated sooner rather than later.

The Labour ⁠Party is waiting to see if Andy Burnham, the Greater ​Manchester mayor, can win a local election in Makerfield on Thursday to ​return to parliament, where he would become the frontrunner in any challenge to Starmer.

“I think the prime minister should be given some space and time ​to reflect over the weekend, and I think we should see ​where we are then,” Streeting said.

Starmer has repeatedly said he would fight to keep ‌his ⁠job and that a leadership contest was not the right thing for the country. Streeting disagreed.

“We can’t carry on with this uncertainty and paralysis,” he said.

“I would prefer the PM to take ​a decision on ​his own terms ⁠rather than leave it for Andy or me or anyone else to trigger a contest.”

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Streeting quit ​last month in protest at the prime minister’s record, ​turning ⁠up the heat on Starmer, and leading to speculation that a leadership challenge was likely in the coming months.

In a further blow to ⁠Starmer’s ​authority, the highly respected defence minister, John ​Healey, resigned last week, accompanied by a scathing critique of Starmer’s record in allocating funds ​to increase defence spending.