Starmer ally admits prime minister is ‘unpopular’ but warns of ‘chaos’ if leadership contest triggered – UK politics live

Pressure is intensifying on Keir Starmer after Andy Burnham was given a route back to parliament

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics.

Housing secretary Steve Reed, a close ally of Keir Starmer, has been on the media round this morning urging Labour colleagues to put the “country first, party second”, even as he admits the prime minister is “unpopular”.