Scottish Labour leader calls for Keir Starmer to resign as UK premier

The leader of Scottish Labour has publicly called on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to step down, dealing a serious blow to the prime minister’s already fragile authority as pressure intensifies within the Labour Party.

Anas Sarwar made the call during a hastily arranged press conference in Glasgow, arguing that the controversy surrounding the appointment of Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to Washington has become a damaging distraction for the government. Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein, which were known at the time of his appointment, have triggered a major political storm.

Sarwar said: “The distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change.”

Growing Pressure Ahead of Scottish Elections

Sarwar is the most senior Labour politician so far to publicly call for Starmer’s resignation, a move that comes as Scottish Labour faces a challenging campaign ahead of May’s Holyrood elections. Opinion polls suggest the party could finish third, behind the Scottish National Party (SNP) and Reform.

The crisis has already led to resignations at the heart of government. The prime minister’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, stepped down on Sunday, followed by Downing Street communications chief Tim Allan on Monday, both departures linked to the Mandelson affair.

Despite the growing pressure, cabinet ministers have publicly backed Starmer. Downing Street has insisted the prime minister will not resign, with a spokesperson stressing that he is one of only four Labour leaders to have won a general election and that he holds a clear five-year mandate from voters.

Sarwar, however, warned that turmoil in London could damage Labour’s prospects in Scotland, arguing that failures “at the heart of Downing Street” risk undermining the opportunity to unseat a struggling SNP government.

Starmer is expected to face Labour MPs amid anger over Mandelson’s appointment and claims that the peer downplayed the extent of his relationship with Epstein during security vetting. With 37 Labour MPs in Scotland, the party now faces internal divisions over whether to support Sarwar’s stance or remain loyal to the prime minister.

Senior figures including Pat McFadden, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, and Yvette Cooper have all expressed support for Starmer, emphasizing stability and the need to continue delivering Labour’s agenda.

As the government prepares to release large volumes of emails and documents related to Mandelson’s appointment, the pressure on Starmer shows little sign of easing, setting the stage for a critical moment in Labour’s leadership and unity.

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