SIR KEIR Starmer rejected calls today to set out a timetable to stand down in the event Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield by-election.

The Prime Minister insisted he would lead the Labour Party into the next general election as the Greater Manchester mayor promised to “change Labour” if his bid to return to Parliament is successful.

Speaking to journalists in London, when asked if he would set out a timeline to leave No10, the PM said: “I’m not going to do that. I do want to fight the next election.”

Sir Keir acknowledged once again the poor local election results earlier this month, as well as the Holyrood and Senedd elections, claiming “his focus is in the right place.”

He said: “The last 10 days, there’s been a lot of activity, which hasn’t been as focused in my view as it should have been, and I remind myself every day that I was elected to office to serve the people, to serve the country, that’s what I believe in, and that’s what I’ll be getting on with.

“Obviously, I recognise that after the local election results, the elections in Wales and Scotland as well, that the first task is obviously turning things around and making sure that my focus is in the right place.”

When asked if he was ready to fight a leadership election if an MP received the support of 81 MPs needed to launch their challenge, he said: “We’re not at that position … but I’ve said, I don’t know how many times, that I’m not going to walk away.”

Speaking at a Leeds summit on northern investment, aspiring rival Mr Burnham ascribed Labour’s losses in the May elections as coming down to an offer to voters which had “simply not been good enough.”

“I’m clear about what I am offering. If I get to stand, a vote for me will be a vote to change Labour, because Labour needs to change if we are to regain people’s trust.

“It will be a vote to make life more affordable again, a vote to power up places, a vote to reindustrialise.”

He promised “a new path which brings the country back together,” claiming he would advocate for further devolution of powers to local authorities.

Mr Burnham also warned against reopening the debate on Brexit, saying he was “not proposing that the UK considers rejoining.”