Elliot Burrin
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

Today marked a slight calm after the storm for Keir Starmer, who yesterday defied a call for him to quit from Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.

The public backing of every member of the cabinet meant the immediate threat to the prime minister cooled.

Starmer's spoken today about his "strong and united" cabinet, saying he will "never walk away from the mandate" he was given.

We've heard from Labour voices supporting him - Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said it's time for "stability", while Health Secretary Wes Streeting also backed the PM. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband adds that this must be a moment of change for Labour.

Wales First Minister Eluned Morgan has spoken out to back Starmer today - although our BBC Wales political editor Gareth Lewis questions whether this was too little, too late.

But Starmer's not fully out of the woods yet. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch says it's "still a matter of when, not if, [Starmer] goes". And Scottish Labour politicians, including MP Brian Leishman and MSP Katy Clark, have backed calls for the PM to resign.

That's as Starmer said Sarwar had his support "100% without reservation".

As our political correspondent Harry Farley writes, it's a moment of calm for the prime minister - but there's plenty of peril ahead as a by-election in Manchester at the end of the month and May's local, Welsh and Scottish elections await.

We're ending our live coverage here for today, but you can catch up with the latest updates in our story.

Scottish Labour MPs left in an impossible situationpublished at 16:37 GMT

16:37 GMT

Paris Gourtsoyannis
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Image source, PA Media

Events of the past few days have left Scottish Labour MPs in an almost impossible position: back their leader in Scotland, or at Westminster.

Many have been deeply unhappy with the performance of the prime minister, but have told me they were totally caught off guard by Anas Sarwar’s intervention on Monday. They believe that Keir Starmer is harming the party’s chances at Scottish elections in May, but didn’t want him undermined now, like this.

Only two have publicly backed Sarwar’s call to resign. Other than some of the ministers in Starmer’s government, the other MPs have stayed publicly silent.

This afternoon, the Scottish Labour group at Westminster met in a committee room at parliament to try and thrash out a position. The mood was tense as 30 Scottish MPs gathered. None of them said anything to the handful of journalists gathered. The group was addressed by Scotland Secretary Douglas Alexander, and health minister Zubir Ahmed and backbenchers Scott Arthur, John Grady and Torcuil Crichton shared their views.

One MP later emerged and said the MPs wanted to “stay united”. Asked which leader they were backing, the MP replied: “Both.”

Later this afternoon, Scottish MPs and MSPs will go to Downing Street for a long-planned meeting to discuss Scottish election strategy. There may be some debate at that meeting, too.

Starmer appeared fired up at first public event since surviving calls for resignationpublished at 16:29 GMT

16:29 GMT

Chris Mason
Political editor

Image source, PA Media

It was my turn today to do what is known as a short pool interview with the prime minister.

It is when he does one interview and it is shared with all the broadcasters.

So I stay out of the shot and probably interject and interrupt a little less, because Sky, ITV, GB News and others probably don’t want my voice and definitely don’t want my face all over their news.

As you’ll spot if you catch the video, the prime minister appeared fired up. Perhaps not surprising having got through yesterday.

A couple of quick observations from the train as I head back to Westminster: His olive branch to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who tried to take him out yesterday.

And his coded rebuke for his Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who unilaterally published his text exchanges with Lord Mandelson yesterday — a pretty transparent attempt from a man who’d love to be prime minister to cleanse his reputation given his long association with the peer.

The prime minister said it was important the publication of the material connected to the former ambassador was done in a ‘managed’ way. The clear implication — Streeting acting off his own bat wasn’t managed.

Starmer is also asked about whether Health Secretary Wes Streeting will be sacked after publishing text messages between him and Peter Mandelson.

The prime minister doesn't directly answer the question, but says that the publication of text messages and information surrounding Mandelson and his appointment as US ambassador "needs to be a managed process" to make sure that the "right information is released".

He says they need to be "totally transparent" and liaise with both Parliament and police.

Image source, UK Pool

Starmer is also asked whether he supports Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader who yesterday said he should step down.

The PM says he has "huge respect" for Sarwar, even after he made his views known, and tells reporters he thinks the Scottish Labour leader will make an "incredible" first minister.

"I support him 100% without reservation," he says.

Asked whether he'll lead the Labour Party in the next election, Starmer says "yes, I will", adding that he has a five-year mandate and he "intend[s] to get on with what I was elected to do".

Next, Starmer is asked if he's motivated by his "near death experience".

He says he's "absolutely clear" who he stands for and what he's fighting for.

In a "perilous" world, he says, the government needs to "stand tall". He adds that for most people across the country, they're more concerned with the cost of living rather than ''political discussion in Westminster".

He says cost of living is "what matters most".

Image source, UK Pool

Following his cost of living event in Hertfordshire earlier, Keir Starmer answered some questions.

Starmer is asked what changes now in how he governs after surviving calls to resign.

The prime minister says Labour has "pulled together" and is "absolutely crystal clear" that it needs to fight for the people who don't get "the respect, the dignity, the chance they deserve in life".

He says the last few days have shown this is the focus of his government and that the Labour Party "needs to change" and be out there making that argument rather than "talking internally to ourselves".

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Sir Keir Starmer has survived a moment of acute peril for his premiership.

But the prime minister has undoubtedly been weakened by the damaging fallout from his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US, despite his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The party appears united, for now, even if many Labour MPs still believe Sir Keir's downfall will come eventually.

Westminster has seen plenty of leadership crises over the past decade. Sir Keir has faced questions over his leadership for months.

Here are three moments that could prove dangerous for the prime minister:

1. The Mandelson files: Will the release of the documents back Starmer's claims that Mandelson lied throughout the vetting process or will they throw up more difficult questions and embarrassing revelations?
2. The Gorton and Denton by-election: If the result is a disaster for Labour, it would be tangible example of recent troubles having an impact at the ballot box. That would inevitably spook the party's MPs
3. Local elections in England, Scotland and Wales: If the prime minister is still in post in May, this could be the most dangerous moment yet - when the extent of Labour's electoral collapse becomes clear

Continue reading my analysis on the three main challenges Starmer is facing - and what might save him.

Keir Starmer's time as prime minister came close to collapse on Monday but he has emerged intact in one of his most difficult days in office.

At one point, it looked like he would have to resign but his cabinet ministers and then Labour MPs came out to back him.

Our political correspondent Harry Farley has a recap of what happened in the video below and looks ahead at some of the possible moments of peril ahead for Starmer.

Image source, PA Media

The prime minister says he is "really proud" of how diverse his cabinet is and then pivots to reflect on his brother who died last year.

"He spent his adult life wandering from job to job in virtual poverty," Starmer continues. "This political system did not work for him. And there are millions of people in the same boat."

Starmer vows he is fighting for working people .

"There are some people in recent days who are saying this Labour government should have a different fight - a fight with itself - instead of a fight for the millions of people who need us to fight for them.

"And I say to them, I will never walk away from the mandate I was given to change this country. I will never walk away from the people that I am charged with fighting for and I will never walk away from the country I love."

Keir Starmer begins with a slight laugh by saying "it's been a busy week and therefore it's very nice to be here with you".

He says that whatever is going on in the "turmoil of politics" - joking "there's been quite a lot of that going on the past few days" - the most important issue to people is the cost of living and paying their bills.

Image source, PA Media

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is now up and addressing attendees at a cost of living event in Hertfordshire.

We'll bring you the top lines from him here - in the meantime, you can watch live at the top of this page.

Image source, Future Publishing via Getty Images

Yesterday evening, Wes Streeting shared his private messages with Peter Mandelson, telling Sky News' Beth Rigby that he has "nothing to hide".

But ministers have since been instructed not to publish their messages by the Metropolitan Police. It says this could compromise its wider investigation into claims Mandelson passed sensitive government information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Messages between Mandelson and ministers could form part of the police investigation.

The former US ambassador has not responded to requests for comment but the BBC understands his position is that he has not acted in any way criminally and that he was not motivated by financial gain.

When will documents on Mandelson be published?

Right now, it's unclear. After MPs passed a motion in the Commons last week, the government agreed to publish thousands of documents relating to Mandelson's appointment as the UK's ambassador to the US.

These documents may not include any private messages, as they're just relating to Mandelson's appointment.

But the government hasn't set a timeline on releasing the files, and the Met Police investigation could delay what material can be released at this stage.

We are expecting to hear from Prime Minister Keir Starmer shortly as he speaks at an event focusing on the cost of living in Hertfordshire.

This is the first public event for Starmer since addressing his MPs at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party yesterday. He'll also be taking questions from the public.

You can follow along live at the top of the page.

Harry Farley
Political correspondent

Image source, PA Media

The prime minister has a “renewed energy and a clarity of message”, Downing Street has insisted.

Keir Starmer is “getting on with the task at hand” after addressing him MPs and peers last night, his spokesman says.

"Yesterday you saw him set out a clear determination to deliver on that mandate he was elected on 18 months ago with renewed energy and a clarity of message,” he says.

Asked about the health secretary’s decision to pre-emptively publish his messages Peter Mandelson, No 10 refused to say whether that had been approved by the prime minister.

“We are being led by the Met [Police] on the disclosure of information,” his spokesperson adds.

"We’re not going to jeopardise a live criminal investigation. The Met has thanked us for respecting their position.”

Downing Street said the prime minister still had confidence in his health secretary.

Georgia Roberts
Political reporter, BBC Derby

A veteran Labour MP says Keir Starmer is "out of the woods for now" but warns that he and his team "have got to get a grip".

Toby Perkins tells BBC Derby that Starmer - who he said would only "probably" be in place at the time of the next general election - needed to accept responsibility for recent events.

"As leader you have to accept ultimate responsibility. Advisers advise and leaders decide," he says.

That said, says Perkins, yesterday's Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) meeting shows the party wants Starmer to "get on with bringing about the change that we want".

The Chesterfield MP adds: "I think Keir Starmer's out of the woods to an extent for now, but ultimately we've got to see the improvements sustained and people have got to experience a Labour government starting to make a positive difference."

Perkins also stressed the need for unity when asked about potential leadership contenders.

"They're ambitious people and I'm sure at some point in the future when there's a vacancy they'll want to be considered."

Phil Sim
Scotland political correspondent, reporting from Holyrood

Image source, Getty Images

As soon as Anas Sarwar stood up to make his surprise announcement on Monday, social media posts started popping up from members of Keir Starmer's cabinet backing the prime minister's position.

By contrast, the support for the Scottish Labour leader has been relatively muted. A dozen of his Scottish Parliament colleagues have now rowed in behind him, either in interviews or social media posts.

But only two of the party's 37 MPs north of the border have followed suit, with a number instead coming out for Team Starmer.

Sarwar himself is not at the Scottish Parliament today, or doing any public events.

In fairness, this is not hugely unusual at the moment - Holyrood's garden lobby has felt notably quieter in recent months as MSPs of all parties turn their attention to the campaign trail ahead of May's election.

A handful of Labour members who were around this morning offered support for Sarwar's stance, with varying levels of enthusiasm and nerves.

Representatives of the SNP and Conservatives, meanwhile, appear to be enjoying themselves enormously, speculating about what might happen next.

It's possible that wherever the Scottish Labour leader is, he's trying to figure out the same thing.

Scottish Labour MSPs have been showing support for their leader Anas Sarwar, who yesterday called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to stand down from the top job.

MSP Martin Whitfield says that the "difficult decision" made by Sarwar to withdraw support from Starmer "was right for Scotland".

"The decisions that have been made have shown an error in judgement," he tells the BBC."I think that Keir Starmer should seriously consider his position."

Echoing his words is fellow MSP Michael Marra, who believes Sarwar has acted in "the best interest of Scotland" - a nation, he says, that is in need of "proper change".

For MSP Katy Clark, the government needs a "reset" after what she calls a series of "poor decisions" tracing back to winter fuel payment cuts and the rejection of compensation for Waspi women.

"Yes, of course I do," she replies when asked if she agrees with Sarwar.

A moment of calm for the PM, but there could be more peril down the roadpublished at 13:17 GMT

13:17 GMT

Harry Farley
Political correspondent reporting from Downing Street

Image source, PA Media

If one or two cabinet members had withheld their support or even resigned yesterday, things could have panned out very differently for Keir Starmer.

The prime minister could have had to go if senior members of the Labour Party - perhaps Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan or Mayor of London Sadiq Khan - had also joined Scottish leader Anas Sarwar in calling for him to resign.

I was stood in the corridor outside the committee room where Starmer was addressing Labour MPs and peers last night.

They genuinely did seem impressed. Even those who had previously called for Starmer to go seemed appeased.

They said they had never seen the prime minister speak like that.

Starmer spoke about his brother who had learning difficulties and his sister who works in the NHS as examples of the people he wants to fight for.

It seems, for now, the PM is safe in his job. But the key words are for now.

A moment of calm perhaps, but still plenty of peril ahead.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has also weighed in on the latest developments in Westminster during an event in London this morning.

Taking questions at the Resolution Foundation thinktank, Burnham says that the PM "has my support, the government has my support".

He adds that ministers also had his support when he put his name forward for the Gorton and Denton by-election in recent weeks, a move that was subsequently blocked by Labour.

"I do feel we're at a crucial moment, it is absolutely right that people give the government stability in this moment," he adds.