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.

Speaking to BBC Politics investigations correspondent Joe Pike, Health Secretary Wes Streeting says he fully supports the prime minister.

Asked if the PM has threatened him with the sack, Streeting says "no".

"The PM has my full support," he says. "The PM is leading this country through an enormous set of challenges and people have got to recognise the integrity with which he does that."

"There is a lot of goodwill behind him, there is an enormous challenge, and we have to meet that challenge as a team."

The next hill on the horizon for the Starmer government is the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election at the end of the month.

Returning from door-stepping potential voters in the area, Labour MP David Pinto-Duschinsky tells BBC News that local residents are concerned with cost of living, public services, and fixing potholes - not "the soap opera in Westminster".

The Hendon MP says he thinks Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar was "wrong" for demanding Starmer's resignation, saying that the Labour Party isn't focused "on internal squabbles, like the Conservatives".

"We all share the public's impatience to deliver that change," Pinto-Duschinsky adds.

We've just received an update from No 10 on what was discussed in a cabinet meeting earlier today.

"The prime minister thanked Political Cabinet for their support. He said they were strong and united," the readout says.

In the meeting, the PM also reiterated support for Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, reaffirming that "the whole" of the Labour Party wants him to become Scotland's first minister.

• As a reminder, Sarwar is the most senior Labour figure so far to have called on the PM to resign

Starmer also highlighted how ministers are delivering on "their mandate to change the country", vowing that the government would "continue its relentless focus on the priorities of the British people".

Image source, PA Media

After a turbulent day for Keir Starmer on Monday, ministers gathered in Westminster this morning for their weekly cabinet meeting.

Here is a run down of what else has happened today so far:

• Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan has backed the PM, saying "the country needs stability in an age of instability"
• Ministers have been told to not follow Wes Streeting's example and refrain from publishing their messages with Peter Mandelson
• Tory leader Kemi Badenoch believes it is "still a matter of when not if" the PM goes
• Energy Secretary Ed Miliband says that Starmer has survived a "very damaging episode" and describes Monday as a "moment of peril for the prime minister"
• The BBC's chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman reports that today marks a moment of "political triumph" for the PM - you can read more analysis here

Gareth Lewis
BBC Wales political editor

Image source, Reuters

With the political temperature high, Eluned Morgan’s support for Keir Starmer could be described as lukewarm.

Both Conservatives and Plaid Cymru are expected to press Morgan on her view on Starmer, and although she has now issued a statement after yesterday’s silence it does give them something extra to base their questions on.

There are serious caveats in what she says, including an implication that failures in the appointment of Peter Mandelson have not been fully confronted.

Yet her “ultimate” test is whether the prime minister delivers for Wales – might opposition parties pick up on that potential contradiction later on Tuesday in first minister’s questions?

Is that more important than the Mandelson scandal, and does she think he is delivering?

This is the third time in as many weeks that Morgan has not given Starmer her full-throated support, but the situation this time is far more serious given events on Monday, with that Senedd election now less than three months away.

A short while ago, we reported that ministers have been instructed not to publish their messages with Peter Mandelson after Wes Streeting did so last night.

We can now bring you a statement from a spokesperson for the Met Police which reiterates that directive:

“An investigation into alleged misconduct in public office is under way and it is vital due process is followed so that our criminal investigation and any potential prosecution is not compromised.

"As part of our enquiries, we will review material identified and provided to us by the Cabinet Office to assess whether publication is likely to have a detrimental impact on our investigation or any subsequent prosecution.

"We will work alongside the Cabinet Office to review relevant documents over the weeks ahead. The process to decide which documents should ultimately be published remains a matter for government and parliament.

“As we have stated previously, this investigation may be complex but we are focused on a timely and thorough process so that justice is served in this case or future ones linked to the Epstein files.

“We understand and respect the role of parliament in releasing these documents and will support their objective of transparency through our work with the Cabinet Office.”

Cabinet ministers have been all smiles as they leave Downing Street after meeting with Keir Starmer.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters