Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar has called on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign, saying, “The distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change.”
Starmer has been facing calls to step down amid the scandal around Peter Mandelson’s appointment as UK Ambassador to the US, despite his links to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Scottish Labour leader said that Downing Street leadership is becoming a “huge distraction” from Labour’s positive work across the country.
He asserted that he is not backing any alternative but added that it is for the UK cabinet, Downing Street and Labour to decide the process.
Nonetheless, he said that the people of Scotland “are crying out for competent government.”
“We have an SNP government that is addicted to secrecy and cover ups with devastating consequences. That’s why I have to be honest about failure wherever I see it. The situation in Downing Street is not good enough. There have been too many mistakes.
“They promised they were going to be different, but too much has happened. Have there been good things? Of course, there have been many of them, but no one knows them and no one can hear them because they’re being drowned out. That’s why it cannot continue.”
Anas Sarwar
Last Thursday, Sarwar said Starmer could stay on as Prime Minister but speaking at the news conference, he noted that “the issues are much broader now,” and that there have been too many incidents where the wrong judgement calls were made.
Sarwar revealed that he spoke to Starmer before the press conference. “I think it’s safe to say he and I disagreed,” he remarked.
He asserted that he could have chosen to stay quiet and pretend everything was fine for the next three months. “But my first loyalty and my first priority is to Scotland,” he continued, adding that the government desperately needs a different government.
The Scottish Labour leader then said that he’s spoken to people inside Starmer’s Cabinet, and it’s “for them to decide their own view” on how to respond to his calls for the Prime Minister to step down.
Sarwar’s press conference comes after Starmer’s Director of Communications Tim Allan resigned, a day after the Prime Minister’s Chief of staff quit.
Tim Allan started as Director of communications in September 2025, serving five months in the role. He is the fourth person to hold the role under Keir Starmer.
Starmer Not Resigning As Prime Minister – Downing Street
Meanwhile, Downing Street asserted that Keir Starmer is not resigning and will be “concentrating on the job in hand.”
The Prime Minister’s Spokesperson said that Starmer’s mood this morning is “upbeat” and “confident” after he addressed staff earlier on.
His Spokesperson also denies that the Prime Minister has been considering his position over the weekend.
“That is not the Prime Minister who appeared in front of staff this morning. He is getting on with the job of delivering change across the country. It is very clear that he remains determined to tackle the job in hand.”
Prime Minister’s Spokesperson
The Spokesperson said that Starmer is also confident that he has the Cabinet’s unanimous support.
A string of cabinet Ministers came out to back Keir Starmer. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said that rebuilding Britain takes time.
“But thanks to the decisions we’ve made NHS waiting lists are falling. Inflation is falling. Interest rates are falling. The conditions for the economy to grow are there. With Keir as our Prime Minister we are turning the country around.”
Rachel Reeves
David Lammy called for MPs to “support the Prime Minister” minutes before Sarwar’s press conference.
In a message on X, the Deputy Prime Minister said that Starmer won a massive mandate 18 months ago, for five years to deliver on Labour’s manifesto that we all stood on. “We should let nothing distract us from our mission to change Britain and we support the Prime Minister in doing that,” he added.
In a widening show of support, Defence Secretary John Healey, noted that the public “expect us to get on with the job” and Cabinet Office Minister Darren Jones said that everybody in Labour “must get behind the Prime Minister.”
Housing Secretary Steve Reed similarly stated, “We need to stay the course and deliver the change this country voted for.”
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