LONDON, June 20 (Xinhua) -- British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to set a timetable for his departure on Friday, British media reported.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks at a press conference in London, Britain, April 1, 2026. (File photo: Xinhua)

Alexander told Starmer that it would be in the interests of the country and the Labour Party for him to step aside to allow an orderly transition to a new leader, said the Financial Times, quoting "several government members."

It has also been reported that British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood previously called on Starmer to set a date for his departure.

The renewed pressure on Starmer to resign came after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham won a parliamentary by-election in the northwestern English constituency of Makerfield on Friday morning, paving the way for his return to parliament and a possible bid for the Labour Party leadership.

Burnham said during a television debate earlier this month that he would seek to enter any potential Labour leadership contest, should he win the by-election.

Starmer said on Friday that he would fight any leadership challenge, saying: "I'm not going to walk away from that."