Cabinet Ministers Rally Behind Embattled Starmer as Sarwar Demands Resignation
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has called for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to resign, warning that "failures in the heart of Downing Street" are creating damaging distractions and threatening Labour's election prospects. Sarwar's intervention represents the most significant challenge to Starmer's leadership yet, coming from a senior party figure who leads Labour's Scottish branch.
Sarwar's Glasgow Declaration
At a hastily convened press conference in Glasgow, Sarwar declared that "the distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change." He emphasized that Westminster turmoil was negatively impacting Scottish Labour's chances in the upcoming Holyrood elections, where opinion polls currently show the party trailing behind both the SNP and Reform.
The Scottish leader's call for Starmer's resignation stems from the Prime Minister's controversial decision to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. This appointment has drawn intense scrutiny due to Mandelson's continued friendship with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein's conviction for child sex offences.
Cabinet's Coordinated Response
As Sarwar spoke in Glasgow, a coordinated wave of cabinet ministers rushed to publicly support Starmer. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander directly contradicted Sarwar, stating he was "wrong" in his assessment. Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds appealed for party unity, declaring that "resorting to infighting now does not serve the country."
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy led the cabinet's social media defense, posting: "We should let nothing distract us from our mission to change Britain and we support the Prime Minister in doing that." Chancellor Rachel Reeves added her voice, asserting: "With Keir as our Prime Minister we are turning the country around."
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized Starmer's international importance, stating: "At this crucial time for the world, we need his leadership not just at home but on the global stage." Health Secretary Wes Streeting, when asked directly whether Starmer should resign, answered "no" and urged Labour MPs to give the Prime Minister a chance to continue his work.
Leadership Challenges and Party Divisions
The crisis has exposed significant divisions within Labour, with Scottish Labour's 37 MPs now facing a difficult choice between backing their Scottish leader Sarwar or remaining loyal to Starmer. Former deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner, considered a potential successor to Starmer, urged colleagues to "come together, remember our values and put them into practice as a team," while offering the Prime Minister her "full support."
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden predicted that Starmer would "acknowledge what's gone wrong" and "take responsibility for the decision" during his scheduled meeting with Labour MPs, while arguing the Prime Minister "deserves the support of the parliamentary party" to continue governing.
Downing Street Turmoil and Communications Shakeup
The scandal has triggered significant changes within Number 10, with communications chief Tim Allan announcing his resignation to allow "a new No 10 team to be built." Allan, a "New Labour" veteran like Mandelson, had only joined the media operation in September.
Starmer addressed Downing Street staff on Monday morning, urging them to "go forward from here" and prove that politics can be a "force for good." Regarding the Mandelson appointment, Starmer expressed particular anger about "the undermining of the belief that politics can be a force for good and can change lives."
Ongoing Investigations and Political Fallout
The pressure on Starmer's premiership shows no signs of easing as the government prepares to release tens of thousands of emails, messages, and documents related to Mandelson's appointment. Starmer believes these files will demonstrate that the former Labour grandee misrepresented the extent of his ties to Epstein during the vetting process.
Both Starmer and his former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, who resigned on Sunday, have placed blame on security service vetting procedures for failing to disprove Mandelson's claims about his limited relationship with Epstein. These claims were dramatically contradicted by disclosures in the so-called Epstein files.
Before Sarwar's intervention, calls for Starmer's resignation had primarily come from left-wing MPs within the party. Sarwar's public demand represents a significant escalation that threatens to deepen Labour's internal divisions just months before crucial elections.
