Sir Keir Starmer will face Prime Minister's Questions for the first time since he announced his resignation, marking his first public appearance since his emotional statement in Downing Street on Monday morning. During that statement, he set out a timetable for his exit as Labour leader.
Limited Policy Scope in Final Weeks
The Prime Minister is expected to face questions about the scope of what his Government can achieve in his final weeks in office. Downing Street has stated that no "major" new policy decisions or spending pledges will be made before a new Labour leader is chosen.
Andy Burnham, widely seen as Sir Keir's likely successor, has been offered Government briefings to prepare for power after Civil Service access talks were authorised by the Prime Minister. The pair met on Tuesday, their first face-to-face meeting since Mr Burnham's return to Westminster. According to the Guardian, the meeting took place away from No 10 and was reportedly "frosty."
Defence Investment Plan Dispute
Despite the promise of no major policy decisions, a row appears to be brewing between Sir Keir and Mr Burnham over the Defence Investment Plan (Dip). This blueprint for future-proofing the military sparked the resignation of John Healey as defence secretary earlier this month. Sir Keir wants to complete work on the Dip before leaving Downing Street so he can present it at the Nato summit in Turkey on July 7, aiming to establish his legacy as Prime Minister.
The plan provides some £14 billion extra funding for the armed forces, according to the Times, though this is still far short of the £28 billion that military chiefs have called for. Mr Burnham's camp and allies of Mr Healey have urged the Prime Minister against publishing the plan until his successor is in place.
Burnham's Potential Cabinet and Advisors
Talks are ongoing about who might serve in a Burnham cabinet and who might advise the former Greater Manchester mayor behind the scenes. Senior Labour figures, including former transport secretary Louise Haigh, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, and former health secretary Wes Streeting, have all been tipped for top jobs in a government led by Mr Burnham.
James Purnell, a former Labour cabinet minister who served alongside Mr Burnham in the Blair government, is reportedly being considered as a chief of staff, according to the Times. Crossbench peer Jim O'Neill, who has been advising Mr Burnham, told the Guardian he wanted to see a new independent body set up to allow extra money to be spent on infrastructure while remaining within Labour's fiscal rules. The body could follow the model of the Office for Budget Responsibility, he said, enabling billions more to be spent on boosting big transport and public works projects.
Other Leadership Contenders
Though Mr Burnham is the most likely candidate to succeed Sir Keir, other MPs continue to be discussed as potential leadership contenders. Former defence minister Al Carns, who followed Mr Healey out the door this month, told Newsnight he was "pretty serious" about launching a leadership bid. He added he wanted to see the policies Mr Burnham was going to champion, telling the BBC programme: "We need to see that material before I can make a decision to back anyone."
