By the time Sir Keir Starmer had come to the unavoidable conclusion to step down as Prime Minister, it was a decision made with his closest and most trusted confidante in politics – his wife, Victoria.
Despite repeated public assurances that Starmer would fight any leadership challenge in the days running up to his resignation, by Sunday the Labour leader knew his time was up and made the only realistic choice left available to him.
“I think Keir and Vic were really the only ones to decide,” a source said, who was on Downing Street when the Prime Minister addressed the nation on a baking Monday morning.
Shorts
The couple had spent the weekend at the Prime Minister’s grace and favour retreat, Chequers, alongside Starmer’s inner circle of advisers where they deliberated over whether he should meet any challenge Andy Burnham in a leadership contest or quit No10.
