Starmer latest: PM must resign, Scottish Labour leader says as pressure piles on No 10

Labour MP Karl Turner told Times Radio that Anas Sawar has “bottled it” by calling for Keir Starmer to step aside.

Speaking to Jo Coburn, he said: “I think Keir Starmer is unpopular in the country and the Labour government are unpopular in the country and I think Anas has bottled it and decided to call for the PM to go on the basis that it might improve Scottish Labour’s chances of forming a government there.

“But I think it’s a mistake, I think it’s unfair and frankly I think it’s disloyal.”

The MP told people to “calm it down” and get behind Starmer.

“What on earth are people doing, panicking, saying the PM ought to be gone for? He’s made a mistake, that’s all he’s done. He’s made too many mistakes, that’s true, but he needs the opportunity to recover from the mistakes he’s made.”

The Independent’s Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin:

The work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden said he hoped Sir Keir remained in post as cabinet ministers belatedly came out in support of him.

After hours of silence, Sir Keir’s top team finally began to comment just as the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called on him to quit.

Mr McFadden said: “As someone said to me in the constituency on Friday ‘tell your boss to keep going’. I did and I hope he does.”

The foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has also backed him, saying: “At this crucial time for the world, we need his leadership not just at home but on the global stage, and we need to keep our focus where it matters, on keeping our country safe.”

Health secretary Wes Streeting told Sky’s Electoral Dysfunction podcast: “Keir Starmer doesn’t need to resign” and “give Keir a chance”.

The defence secretary John Healey said Sir Keir Starmer had his “fullest support”.

While housing secretary Steve Reed wrote: “Keir led our party to victory and won a mandate for change. Waiting lists are falling, wages are rising, new rights for renters and leaseholders. We need to stay the course and deliver the change this country voted for.”

Scotland secretary Douglas Alexander has sided with Starmer as he says the prime minister has recognised that “lessons have to be learned but also that we change how we do Government”.

In a post on social media, he said: “Anas has reached his own decision and I respect that. My job – as Anas acknowledged today – is to make sure Scotland’s voice is heard in Cabinet.

“My focus remains on doing 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. Like all Labour MPs we want the Labour Government to be the government that the people of this country hoped for when they rejected the Tories. That is where all of my energies are and will remained focused.”

Health secretary Wes Streeting has responded to calls for Keir Starmer’s resignation, saying: “Give Keir a chance”.

Speaking to the Sky News Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Mr Streeting acknowledged the atmosphere was “febrile” but said “Keir Starmer doesn’t need to resign.”

He added: “It has not been the best week for the government”.

It comes as speculation has intensified that the health secretary was plotting to bring down Starmer.

Mr Streeting has repeatedly denied these claims.

Analysis by Political Editor David Maddox:

The old adage that the person who wields the knife never gets the crown has often been true in UK politics. Just ask Michael Heseltine.

There is now speculation among MPs that Anas Sarwar has done a favour for the ambitious health secretary Wes Streeting.

The Scottish Labour leader is believed to be close to Streeting with most Scottish MPs supportive of a Streeting leadership bid.

Mr Streeting though could not afford to deliver the blow that finished Starmer if he wanted to be leader.

So why not ask an ally with authority in the party who would not be in a leadership contest to do it for him?

One Labour MP suggested: “Anas has done Wes a solid.”

David Lammy has said Keir Starmer will not be resigning.

As he walked in to Downing Street on Monday, he was asked whether Starmer would respond to calls for him to quit.

In reply, he said: “We’ve waited 14 years to get here, no.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves also rallied behind Starmer, saying: “With Keir as our prime minister we are turning the country around.”

Anas Sarwar said there have been “too many mistakes” in Downing Street and Keir Starmer can not continue his leadership.

Speaking to a press conference on Monday, he said: “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, 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.”