United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reportedly preparing to outline a timetable for his departure from office following mounting pressure within his party.

The pressure intensified on Friday after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham secured a by-election victory, positioning himself to potentially launch a formal leadership challenge.

Starmer is said to have concluded that his position is no longer tenable after a series of discussions in recent days with cabinet ministers, Downing Street advisers, trade union leaders, and party donors.

Citing Labour officials, The Observer reported that a “clear statement” could come as early as Monday. However, Starmer is understood to be spending the weekend discussing his future with his wife.

According to the report, a Labour grandee suggested the prime minister now appears “resigned” to stepping down.

“He’s come up hard against the reality that the support isn’t there,” the source said. “The truth is everyone knows this is no longer a tenable proposition. There’s a sadness about it all, of course, but sometimes there’s just an inevitability in politics and, as Boris Johnson said, ‘When the herd moves, it moves.’”

Another Labour official close to the prime minister said Starmer would not “walk away” from Downing Street abruptly but would instead “arrange a deliberate, orderly transition as a matter of duty and dignity.”

On Sunday, Business Secretary Peter Kyle confirmed he had a “thoughtful” conversation with the prime minister on Friday but declined to disclose details, describing it as “private.”

Kyle said he was uncertain about what would happen next but noted that Starmer is weighing his options in light of political realities and the challenges ahead. He added that the prime minister would act “in the best interests of the country.”

Earlier, Downing Street dismissed the reports, insisting that Starmer was “getting on with the job” and remained “determined to fight” for his position.

Starmer became prime minister on July 5, 2024, following a landslide victory by the Labour Party, which ended 14 years of Conservative rule.