In a whirlwind of political drama, Keir Starmer narrowly escaped a leadership crisis, as unexpected allies and foes emerged in a tense battle for survival.
Starmer survives – but minister says Streeting ‘absolutely bottled it (Image: PA)
Embattled PM Sir Keir Starmer desperately clung to power Monday evening following a Cabinet-delivered eleventh-hour reprieve from political oblivion.
The Prime Minister suffered a devastating blow when Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar dramatically demanded his resignation purportedly for the nation’s benefit amid the Mandelson scandal fallout.
Mr Sarwar, formerly a Starmer ally but now whispered to be acting on behalf of Health Secretary and widely-touted leadership contender, Wes Streeting, declared Downing Street had committed ‘too many mistakes.’
He stated: “I have to be honest about failure wherever I see it. The distraction has to end, the leadership has to change.”
Advance warning triggers panic
Mr Sarwar notified the PM beforehand of his intervention, triggering No 10 panic and launching a substantial rescue operation.
A Labour source revealed ministers received instructions to express PM support by day’s end or face dismissal.
The Prime Minister was still absorbing the shock of chief of staff Morgan McSweeney’s Sunday exit, compounded by communications director Tim Allan’s Monday morning departure.
Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald teetered on the brink of joining the Downing Street exodus Monday evening – just one year following his appointment by Starmer.
Radical reshuffle
The Prime Minister is launching a radical senior team overhaul while battling for survival.
Streeting accused Starmer’s allies of briefing against him following claims Sarwar’s attack had been coordinated with the health secretary as a calculated attempt to remove the Prime Minister from power.
One minister characterised Sarwar as “Streeting’s outrider,” while another minister stated: “Wes has absolutely f***ing bottled it.”
A government source labeled it “Wes’s James Purnell moment” – referencing a failed June 2009 Gordon Brown removal attempt.
A Streeting spokesman revealed that while Sarwar spoke, the health secretary was recording an interview expressing Starmer support.
The spokesman stated: “At the same time as Wes was saying that Keir needed a chance to set out his case and his plan, No 10 were briefing that Wes had told Anas Sarwar to make his statement. This is the problem.”
One minister characterised Sarwar as “Streeting’s outrider” (Image: Getty)
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar calls on Starmer to resign
Cabinet silence broken
Cabinet ministers declined to publicly support the embattled Prime Minister, just over 24 hours since McSweeney’s dramatic exit over his responsibility for the controversial appointment of Lord Madelson for the position of US ambassador, despite his known links to the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Private conversations explored replacing Starmer with an interim leader such as Defence Secretary John Healey.
Yet leadership challengers remained unprepared to act while financial markets grew jittery over potential leadership chaos, forcing ministers to capitulate to No 10’s public support demands.
A delayed social media posting surge, commencing as Sarwar rose to speak, saw every Cabinet member deliver broad PM support.
During a defiant Labour MPs address later, Starmer pledged to continue fighting, declaring: “Every fight I’ve ever been in, I have won.”
Starmer maintained he wouldn’t “walk away” after surviving the forced removal attempt as allies faced accusations of smearing leadership rival Wes Streeting.
He said: “As I have breath in my body, I’ll be in that fight, on behalf of the country that I love and I believe in.”
Nearly every minister posted supportive messages by day’s conclusion, while other prominent Labour figures including leadership rival Angela Rayner offered Starmer backing.
One revealed: “We’ve all been made to tweet.”
