Scottish Labour deflated in face of Holyrood electionspublished at 10:43 GMT

10:43 GMT

Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Editor

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In calling for Keir Starmer to stand down, Anas Sarwar revealed a fundamental breach in his political relationship with the prime minister.

He has not taken back a word of what he said. If he did, that would undermine his own credibility.

Yet the Scottish secretary Douglas Alexander has said it was nothing more than a “sincere and genuine disagreement” from which both men are ready to move on to concentrate on fighting the SNP.

His interview on BBC Radio Scotland breakfast was smooth and designed to calm the storm.

The fact that he has been called on to perform this role on numerous occasions in recent months tells its own story.

A series of blunders and about turns have marked Starmer’s leadership and many in Scottish Labour think it is wrecking their Holyrood election chances.

They fear that if Starmer stays they will struggle to close the gap with the SNP and Sarwar’s judgement is that if he goes there is at least the chance of changing the political weather.

Whatever happens it seems to me that Downing Street drama will continue to suck some of the oxygen from the Scottish campaign Sarwar wants to fight.

There will either be questions over how the two men can possibly work together should Sarwar become first minister or a new distraction of a leadership process to find a new PM if Starmer’s forced out sooner rather than later.

A former adviser to Keir Starmer says the prime minister should be thinking "bigger" after a "challenging" day yesterday.

"It is obviously a really big moment," says Claire Ainsley, who was Starmer's policy chief when he was in opposition.

"Most of the reporting I think is accurate that the prime minister has emerged stronger in what was an incredibly challenging day," Ainsley tells BBC News. "But he is certainly not out of the woods."

She says that Labour has an opportunity now to "not just to do a short-term reset, but really to do a recovery plan".

By doing this, Ainsley says, they'll be able to "get on with doing what they were elected to do".

Jack Grey
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

This morning, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband admitted that the Labour Party “looked over the precipice” as Keir Starmer fought to shore up support for his leadership. Ultimately, he said, they decided to back him.

Let's quickly remind you how events have unfolded in the last ten days or so and the pressure the prime minister finds himself under.

Mandelson appointment

It stems back to the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US in December 2024, before he was sacked nine months later due to links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Further links were revealed after the US Department of Justice (DoJ) released millions more Epstein files. Among the emails, messages and images included allegations Mandelson passed on market-sensitive government information to Epstein during the height of the global financial crisis in 2009.

The Metropolitan Police is now investigating Mandelson for alleged misconduct in public office. The BBC understands Mandelson's position is that he has not acted in any way criminally and that he was not motivated by financial gain.

Calls to resign

Day by day, the PM has faced anger from all parties, including his own, for the decision to appoint Mandelson in the first place.

Over the weekend, Starmer's long-term adviser Morgan McSweeney dramatically quit. This departure was followed yesterday by Downing Street communications director Tim Allan.

This led to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar becoming the highest profile Labour voice to call for Starmer to step down.

Starmer's cabinet rallies around him

Despite Sarwar's bold call, Starmer's cabinet ministers responded by expressing public support for the prime minister.

Then, Starmer mounted a strong defence of his leadership, by telling a private meeting of Labour MPs on Monday evening that he was "not prepared to walk away".

Angus Harron
BBC News NI

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Keir Starmer’s “biggest advantage” is that the Labour Party doesn't have an alternative leadership candidate who could “turn things around in the short term”, says Professor John Curtice, a political scientist and electoral expert.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster programme, Curtice says that there is no "obvious successor to Keir Starmer".

And because of that, the party would face "a fractious, divisive leadership contest" if the PM were to resign right now.

On Anas Sarwar, Curtice says he decided to “go for broke” and call for Starmer to step down because “he is finding himself seemingly heading for an electoral car crash” in the upcoming Scottish election.

“Anas Sarwar is fighting off the back of a prime minister whose poll ratings in Scotland are dragging Labour down," Curtice says.

"But if it was going to have the effect he wanted, there needed to be other people saying they agreed that Starmer needed to go."

Following our previous post, we're now seeing more cabinet members arrive at Downing Street for a meeting with Keir Starmer.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has arrived, as well as Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who walked in with Technology Secretary Liz Kendall.

We've also seen Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.

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Nabiha Ahmed
Live reporter

Both the criticism and defence of Keir Starmer has continued into today, after the PM faced mounting pressure to quit his job yesterday - including from a senior member of his own party.

In the wake of yesterday's departures, and calls for further departures, here's a look at what's been happening this morning:

• Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the PM faced a "moment of peril" yesterday, but ultimately, the Labour Party "looked over the precipice" and chose to support him
• He suggested that this presents a "moment of change" for the party, and said he expects to see a less "constrained" Starmer going forward
• At yesterday's private meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), Starmer came across as "strong" but "apologetic", according to Karl Turner, one of the Labour MPs who was in the room
• During the PLP meeting, Starmer insisted that he was "not prepared to walk away" from the top job
• His words follow a chorus of calls for the PM to resign, which included opposition party leaders, but also Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar
• Starmer is also set to chair a cabinet meeting this morning - where we've already seen some of those who stood up to back his premiership arriving

This all comes after two officials resigned from Starmer's team in recent days, including his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, and director of communications, Tim Allan.

Our political correspondent Nick Eardley understands that the clear-out of senior officials is set to continue, with the cabinet secretary Chris Wormald also expected to leave his job in the coming days.

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Scottish Secretary of State Douglas Alexander says he has spoken to both Keir Starmer and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, after the latter dramatically called for the prime minister to resign.

“The primary interest in both conversations was moving on and securing a Labour victory in May,” Alexander tells BBC Radio Scotland this morning.

On Monday, Sarwar criticised Starmer’s leadership as becoming a “huge distraction” for the Labour Party’s work in Scotland and suggested the prime minister should resign to improve the party’s chances at local elections in May.

This morning, Alexander says the pair’s dispute was an “honest and genuine disagreement… followed by a full and frank airing of positions”.

He explains that the pair “both speak their minds and don’t bear grudges”, and believes "there is a willingness from them both to work together".

We're now seeing cabinet members arriving at No 10 Downing Street.

The prime minister is due to chair a cabinet meeting later this morning, after he addressed the Parliamentary Labour Party in the Houses of Parliament last night.

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Sarwar makes his biggest political gamble - but can it pay off?published at 08:27 GMT

08:27 GMT

Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Editor

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Many in Scottish Labour believe the blunders and about turns that have marked Keir Starmer's leadership are wrecking their Holyrood election campaign.

Just 18 months ago, Anas Sarwar looked like a contender for the job of first minister - a serious challenger to the SNP's John Swinney.

Today, Scottish Labour appears to be trailing the SNP by a long way if the trend in opinion polls and the party's own canvassing paints an accurate picture.

Sarwar felt that if he did nothing his prospects were unlikely to improve.

Instead, he has taken a big gamble and decided to do something - taking a stand on Starmer's leadership in the hope that it changes the political weather.

And if support for Starmer hardens and he remains in office - the rift between him and Sarwar could run through Labour's Holyrood campaign.

Image source, UK Parliament

Labour MP Brian Leishman has been a vocal critic of Keir Starmer in the last few days.

He tells BBC Radio Scotland this morning that Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar was "honest, upfront and clear" on his position that Starmer needed to step down as prime minister.

"That can’t ever be represented as a miscalculation," Leishman says. "It was the right decision for Scotland, that chimes with the conversations I’m having on the doorsteps."

“The Labour government need a set of policies that will truly transform Scottish and British society," the MP for Alloa and Grangemouth says, adding that he believes Starmer is not delivering on that front.

In one of the final questions put to Ed Miliband, Jon Kay asks him specifically how Keir Starmer should change.

The former Labour leader says that he feels frustrated that the "private Keir" he knows, who is in politics for the right reasons, has felt "slightly constrained".

He adds that last night during the Parliamentary Labour Party meeting, Starmer was "passionate and clear about his purpose".

"I think we are going to see more of that," Miliband adds.

When pushed on whether we have heard this before, Miliband laughs it off and says he is just answering the question. He points out that government is hard and that governments make mistakes.

He adds that he knows what motivates Starmer and that he relishes the task of telling people why he is in politics.

BBC Breakfast presenter Jon Kay puts to Miliband that many viewers have expressed their anger as they thought a Labour government was going to be different, but all they have seen recently is further infighting.

"You are no different from the Conservatives," Kay says.

Miliband replies: "I don't agree with that but I understand why they are angry."

The energy secretary is then asked if he would want Keir Starmer's job.

"No I don't want it, I have said that before," Miliband says - brushing off speculation he might mount a leadership challenge.

"Yesterday was a moment of peril for the prime minister - I make no bones about that," he adds.

Ultimately, he says the Labour Party - as a collective body - looked at the alternatives of going down the road of a chaotic leadership election and decided: "no, not for us."

"He is our leader and he deserves the time and space to renew the government, reset the government and focus on the country."

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is speaking to BBC Breakfast now, and the first question put to him is how long Keir Starmer has left as prime minister.

Miliband says Labour decided to do the right thing and support its leader, adding that Starmer was elected with a clear mandate and needs to get on with his job.

He says this has got to be moment of change for the Labour Party and that it should focus on the country and not turn inward.

Miliband is pressed again on how long Starmer has left. He says he does not agree that the PM does not have much time left in the job, adding that Starmer has survived a "very damaging episode".

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In a defining moment for Anas Sarwar's leadership of Scottish Labour, he told a hastily arranged news conference in central Glasgow that it was time for Keir Starmer to go.

"The distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change," Sarwar said.

However, just as Sarwar began to speak, a flurry of senior Labour ministers took to social media to express their support for the prime minister.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the public had given "Keir a huge mandate only 18 months ago". Health Secretary Wes Streeting told Sky News: "Keir Starmer doesn't need to resign. It has not been the best week for the government. Give Keir a chance."

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: "Anas has reached his own decision and I respect that. The prime minister has recognised not just that lessons have to be learned but also that we change how we do government. He is right about that and has my support."

Even Labour's former deputy leader, Angela Rayner - seen by many as a potential leadership rival - signalled her backing for Starmer.

Shortly, we'll be hearing from Energy Secretary Ed Miliband on BBC Breakfast. We'll bring you key lines from his interview, but you can also follow along by pressing watch live from around 07:30 GMT.

For now, Starmer sees off a moment of maximum dangerpublished at 07:07 GMT

07:07 GMT

Chris Mason
Political editor

The prime minister has had a political near-death experience – and survived, for now at least.

At various points, he looked like he might be done for and imminently.

If Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar's desire to dislodge Keir Starmer had had public accomplices, that could have been it.

There was a crucial pivot point on Monday afternoon when things could have gone in one of two ways.

If others had said Starmer should go, he might not have got to the end of the day without announcing his departure.

But instead, there was a rallying of support from the cabinet and from various wings of the Labour Party.

Let's be clear: missives of loyalty from cabinet ministers towards the prime minister shouldn't be newsworthy and they only become so when the opposite seems feasible.

The sheer volume of social media posts only served to underline just how perilous Starmer's position had been: he needed political scaffolding to prop him up from wherever it could be found.

But that support did come and he has seen off, for now, the moment of maximum danger for him.

Continue reading my analysis about why Labour has decided to stick with Starmer - for now.

We've just heard from Karl Turner, a Labour MP who was in the room last night when Keir Starmer told a private meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) that he had no intention of leaving his post.

"It was a strange atmosphere initially," the Kingston upon Hull East MP tells BBC Breakfast.

Turner says the prime minister was initially met with a round of applause "from most members", but he notes that Starmer also recognised that there were apologies to make.

"He made those apologies, that's the reality of what happened and he was well received."

Turner says he was one of 44 Labour MPs who spoke in the room and told Starmer that the PLP wants to be included more going forward.

"This was not a man who was on his knees," Turner adds. "It was somebody who was incredibly strong, forceful, determined and apologetic."

Responding to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar's intervention in Glasgow, Turner said: "I was surprised and saddened that Anas felt he had to come out to be so disloyal."

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Our political correspondent reported hearing several noisy rounds of applause for the prime minister as he addressed a packed meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party in the Houses of Parliament last night.

"Every fight I've been in, I have won," the prime minister told his MPs and explained he would not be stepping down.

He added: "I have had my detractors every step along the way, and I've got them now.

"But I'll tell you this, after having fought so hard for the chance to change our country, I'm not prepared to walk away from my mandate and my responsibility to my country, or to plunge us into chaos, as others have done."

Cabinet Office minister Chris Ward, a loyal ally of the PM, said Starmer was "almost a completely different person" and that he had never seen him so passionate.

However, several sources inside the room told the BBC there were also a number of critical questions from MPs.

Many of today's front pages lead on Starmer defying calls to stand down.

The Times headlines with the "PM comes out fighting as cabinet falls in line" after "surviving an attempt to force him from office".

Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph reports that Health Secretary Wes Streeting has been accused of attempting a "No 10 coup".

The Financial Times also leads with Starmer and Streeting, saying the former "defies calls to stand down" as allies have accused the latter of "fuelling crisis".

The Guardian leads with "embattled" Starmer's rebuttal: "I'm not prepared to walk away."

While the Daily Mail says the cabinet have "bounced into giving PM stay of execution".

Relief may be premature, as a clear-out of officials seems set to continuepublished at 06:29 GMT

06:29 GMT

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

The public backing of every member of the cabinet means the immediate threat to Keir Starmer has cooled.

He told Labour MPs last night that he wasn't prepared to walk away - adding defiantly: every fight I've been in, I have won.

Senior cabinet members told the BBC they thought yesterday's call from the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar for the prime minister to quit had galvanised support for Starmer - leaving him in a stronger position by the end of the day.

A clear-out of senior officials is set to continue, with the cabinet secretary Chris Wormald also expected to leave his job in the coming days.

But there is no doubt the prime minister has been wounded by recent events - and questions over his judgement in appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.

And any sighs of relief may be short lived. The prime minister still faces potentially difficult moments ahead; including the Gorton and Denton by-election later this month - and the Scottish, Welsh and English local elections in May.

Thomas Mackintosh
Live reporter

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Keir Starmer appears safe in his job for the time being - after surviving one of the most difficult days of his premiership so far.

Yesterday, the prime minister's director of communications followed his chief of staff in leaving Downing Street. Hours later, Starmer defied a call for him to quit from Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.

At the same time, Starmer secured the backing of his cabinet as a wave of supportive messages appeared from key government ministers. Later, Starmer told a packed meeting of Labour MPs that he was not prepared to abandon his mandate.

Opposition parties have also been having their say. Before last night's meeting, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch told the BBC that Starmer's position was "untenable".

So what now?

Our political correspondent Nick Eardley says it is expected in the next couple of days that the country's most senior civil servant will also leave his job.

The PM will chair a cabinet meeting later this morning, and there's still plenty to unpick and analyse, so stay with us throughout the day.