More than 100 Labour MPs have signed a statement saying this is “no time for a leadership contest” – as Keir Starmer told his cabinet he would not stand down while a formal leadership contest had not been triggered. The letter, coordinated by backbenchers, has been signed by 103 MPs, including parliamentary private secretaries. Organisers say it did not come from No 10, though MPs said it had been circulated by government whips. The number of MPs exceeds those who have publicly called for the prime minister to quit – which is more than 80 MPs and three ministers who have quit, including the influential minister Jess Phillips. Those backing Starmer said it showed that the MP had the support of the majority of MPs – as well as the cabinet – though critics said it was still less than half of backbenchers. “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,” the letter said.…