UK's Starmer says he is focused on doing his job as PM

LONDON, May ​18 (Reuters) - ⁠British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who ​is under intense pressure to quit from within his Labour Party after a ​set ‌of poor local election results, said on Monday he remained focused on ⁠doing his job. The heavy losses for Labour ⁠in the May 7 ​elections triggered almost a quarter of his lawmakers to call for him to go, and two rivals are openly vying to replace him, ​unsettling ‌investors who have pushed up the government's borrowing costs.

"I am focused on the job that I was asked to do, which is to serve my country and to carry out my duties ​as prime minister of this country," he told staff during a ‌visit to the Labour Party's headquarters.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said Starmer would not be setting ‌out a timetable for his departure. This came after media reports over the weekend said he was weighing whether or not to announce ​a plan to step down. Lawmaker Wes Streeting, who quit as health minister ‌last week, said on Saturday he would stand in any formal leadership contest. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is seeking a seat in parliament ⁠that would ⁠allow him to make a challenge ‌too.

Starmer has repeatedly said that he intends to fight any leadership challenge. Any candidate ​wishing to ​make a challenge would need to secure the ‌support of 20% of Labour members of parliament. With Labour currently holding 403 seats, that equates to 81 backers. (Reporting by William James and Elizabeth Piper Editing by William Schomberg, Alexandra Hudson)