Tonight (Saturday 6th June) the Prime Minister has confirmed that he will fight a leadership challenge and be a candidate in any contest.

This is a clear and welcome statement of intent from the Prime Minister and in the event of any such leadership contest, my vote will be for Keir.

It's less than two years since our government was elected and more than 200 Labour MPs like me entered parliament for the first time. In my case, defeating the sitting Defence Secretary and gaining a seat (Welwyn Hatfield) that the Conservatives had held for 19 years. We forget the importance of this mandate at our peril.

Voters who put their faith in the Labour Party did so in the belief they were backing a five year programme. Like all governments, they expect a Labour government to deliver on our manifesto, but there was also a strong and enduring desire to end the chaotic spectacle of recycling through Prime Ministers every couple of years.

Two years into a Labour government, there is a story of progress to tell. Our public services have been stablised with NHS waiting lists down, public servants pay increased and investment and reform coming to SEND education.

The rights of millions of workers and renters have been strengthened through two landmark pieces of legislation. Trains are back under public control and fares have been frozen.

Our Chancellor has presided over a set of difficult trade-offs, but interest rates are 1.5% lower than we she took office, the green economy is growing fast and in lockstep with the Prime Minister, we are seeking a much closer economic partnership with our allies in the EU.

Of course there have been missteps, but this is a Prime Minister with the humility to apologise where mistakes have been made and the resolve to learn from them and do better. He has built relationships with allies across the world, shown his judgement under pressure in keeping us out of the war in Iran and spoken for up for British values when faced with agitators at home and abroad who have sought to stoke division.

There is huge talent in the Labour Party, which I have seen firsthand in Parliament. I was in Makerfield last week and saw the spark of Andy Burnham's connection with his local community. It's possible in politics and in life to want two things at the same time - for Andy Burnham to soundly defeat Reform on the 18th June and for Keir Starmer to remain as Labour Leader and Prime Minister.

I hold onto hope that a leadership contest will not be triggered at all. If it comes, I'll be supporting a Prime Minister who secured a historic victory two years ago, is respected on the world stage and is less than halfway through a term of office that the British public entrusted us with.