Members of Keir Starmer's government have resigned amid calls for him to quit.

Tom Rutland, a parliamentary private secretary (PPS), said the Prime Minister had “lost authority” and should “set out a timetable for his departure”.

Joe Morris, a PPS to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and Sally Jameson, a PPS at the Home Office, have also called for Sir Keir to resign.

Salley Jameson MP has also called for Sir Keir to go.

Another half-dozen PPSs expected to quit on Monday, it has been suggested.

They are among more than 60 Labour MPs who have demanded Sir Keir set out a timetable to hand over the leadership to someone else.

Labour MP Tom Rutland, an aide to a minister, said: "It is with regret that I believe the Prime Minister should now set out a timetable for his departure and for a new leader to be chosen to lead the Labour Party and the country."

He added: “We also have a generational responsibility to stop Reform’s hatred and division from taking over our great country.

“It weighs heavily on me and all of us must do all we can to prevent this from happening.

“I do not have faith that the Prime Minister can meet this challenge.

“It is not compatible to hold this view and continue to serve on the frontbench, so I have resigned as a parliamentary private secretary to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and will continue to represent my wonderful constituents in East Worthing and Shoreham from the backbenches.”

Defence Secretary John Healey and Communities Secretary Steve Reed have arrived in No10.

The Prime Minister sought to face down critics on Monday with a promise to prove his doubters wrong, as a former minister withdrew threats to imminently launch a leadership challenge.

But his speech failed to quell demands that he quit or set out a timetable for his departure from discontented backbenchers, who numbered 61 by Monday evening.