The UK Prime Minister is to meet one of his biggest leadership rivals as he seeks to face down a Labour revolt.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting is expected to meet Keir Starmer tomorrow morning, it is understood.
The meeting will come after Labour descended into open division over the prime minister's future, with four ministers resigning and at least 80 MPs urging him to quit, while more than 100 others warned against a leadership contest.
It is understood that Mr Streeting, widely seen as a leadership hopeful, will not say anything after the meeting that could distract from King Charles' Speech later tomorrow.
The Times said he is expected to discuss the "turbulence" gripping the party and how Mr Starmer will "get us out of this mess".
Prominent MP Jess Phillips and health minister Zubir Ahmed, an ally of Mr Streeting, were among the junior ministers to exit the prime minister's government, piling pressure on him to go.
The Labour leader vowed to fight on at today's Cabinet meeting, and was publicly backed by several ministers at the top of government, including his deputy David Lammy, who urged colleagues to "step back and take a breath".
Despite speculation that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood could resign after reports that she privately told the prime minister to consider his position, a spokesman said she was "cracking on with the job" and would not be quitting.
A statement understood to have been signed by more than 100 Labour MPs, and not organised by Downing Street, urged colleagues to come together behind the prime minister.
The statement said: "Last week we had a devastatingly tough set of election results. It shows we have a hard job ahead to win back trust from the electorate.
"That job needs to start today - with all of us working together to deliver the change the country needs.
"We must focus on that. This is no time for a leadership contest."
However, MP for Ealing Central and Acton Rupa Huq denied signing the letter.
In a post on X, she said: "Surprised to see my name on this list when I haven't either signed any letter supporting the PM or called for the PM to go??
"Not very courteous of colleagues to put names down without their approval."
Watch: Peter Cardwell discusses the chances of Kier Starmer holding on to his job
At least 86 out of Labour's 403 MPs have demanded Mr Starmers departure after the party's electoral mauling last week, passing the threshold to trigger a leadership contest but without meeting the condition that they all line up behind a single challenger.
Ms Phillips, the most high profile of the ministerial departures, criticised the prime minister's failure to be "bold".
Mr Ahmed followed her out of the door this afternoon, citing a "lack of values-driven leadership" and saying the public has "irretrievably lost confidence in you as prime minister".
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Read more:
Follow live updates
Key issues during Labour leader's time as UK Prime Minister
Alex Davies-Jones, believed to be a supporter of Mr Streeting, also quit the Home Office, saying there had been a lack of "bold, radical action".
Resigning housing minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, an ally of Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, said the public had lost trust in Mr Starmer because of issues such as the scrapping of the winter fuel payment.
Speaking on Sky News, Ms Fahnbulleh said she was not working with Mr Streeting, nor with his aides, to bring down Mr Starmer.
She said: "I don't think this is a coup. For me, this is a personal decision.
"It's a really hard thing for colleagues to go on the record and to say that they have lost confidence in the prime minister, that they don't think he can lead us forward. That is a very personal decision.
"I know each and every colleague will be grappling with what they heard on the doorstep, and those were some tough, brutal messages that we got, and trying to make a judgement about what is best for the country.
"And ultimately, it's not about a coordinated plot. It's about each of us making that decision."
She added that she hopes that if there is a leadership contest, there is a "proper process" where "a range of people" can set out their vision, but said she did not know if a deal was being done behind closed doors for the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, to return to Parliament.
The prime minister earlier defied calls to vacate No 10, telling his Cabinet the country "expects us to get on with governing" and "that is what I am doing".
He avoided being directly challenged as he declined to discuss his leadership during today's gathering or meet critics individually afterwards, PA understands.
Mr Starmer said he would only speak to ministers one-to-one about his fate, but did not do so once Cabinet concluded, according to sources.
Watch: Keir Starmer yesterday said he took responsibility for tough election results
Downing Street's readout said ministers had agreed that the "number one priority remains getting the Strait of Hormuz open again" as they discussed the Iran war in the meeting.
The prime minister chaired a Middle East Response Committee at lunchtime as planned, and he later met construction apprentices during a visit in London, although no reporters were invited.
A meeting scheduled for this afternoon between the prime minister and leaders of the unions affiliated to Labour - the so-called Tulo group - was cancelled.
Speaking to reporters outside No 10 later, Mr Lammy warned that "navel-gazing" within Labour would only benefit Nigel Farage's Reform UK, which made stunning gains at the expense of the ruling party in last week's elections.
"[The Prime Minister] was elected just under two years ago with a mandate from the British people for five years. He has my full support," said the Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Justice Secretary.
"No one seems to have the names to stand up against Keir Starmer, and for those who are suggesting that he should stand down, they should say which candidate would be better."
He added: "I urge colleagues to step back and not benefit Nigel Farage and Reform."
