Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, was first out of the gate on Monday morning when he called a press conference in Glasgow at short notice to make a statement.
He began by saying: “My first priority and loyalty is to my country, Scotland. The distraction needs to end and the leadership needs to change.”
The speech was a response to the resignations of the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, Morgan McSweeney and his director of communications, Tim Allan. The duo quit their roles at Number 10 in response to the debacle over Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador. McSweeney said he had advised the Prime Minister to appoint the Labour veteran.
Others have said since – the First Minister John Swinney included – that advisers advise and Prime Ministers decide. But the advisers in this case have stepped aside.
Anas Sarwar’s call for Starmer to step down as Labour leader and make way for a new party leader and Prime Minister appeared bold during the day. He had always appeared to support the PM in the past, but with less than three months to the Scottish parliamentary election, he obviously felt the need to put clear water between himself and the Labour government at Westminster.
Later the Prime Minister appeared at Westminster at 6pm in a packed committee room where he gave a speech to the Parliamentary Labour Party said to be “rousing”.
Starmer was stony-faced when he left Downing Street by car to go to the House of Commons and face the music from backbenchers. Some had to wait outside the room as too many people had turned up. But ahead of the meeting all cabinet members were part of a 100 strong group who issued their support for the Prime Minister on X.
Mr Sarwar said that making up his mind to demand Sir Keir’s departure from number 10 was not easy, but he cannot allow a third decade of an SNP Government. For the man who would become First Minister if Scottish Labour success at the Scottish elections in May, it had become too difficult to keep quiet. He said that there have been “too many mistakes”.
Sarwar and other Scottish Labour MSPs and MPs have been forced to defend the policies such as continuing the two child cap on benefits and ending the winter fuel allowance since Labour swept into government less than two years ago. It appears he could be more critical in future.
Scottish response
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “This scandal-ridden Labour government are in complete meltdown.
“Anas Sarwar is desperately trying to distance himself from Keir Starmer but Scots will not be fooled.
“They know Sarwar stood shoulder to shoulder with him throughout the General Election campaign and was only installed as Scottish Labour leader thanks to Starmer intervening to remove Richard Leonard.
“Sarwar cannot escape the blame for the chaos that is engulfing Downing Street given he has backed major decisions from the Prime Minister every step of the way, including the appointment of his old friend Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
“While Labour fight among themselves, the Scottish Conservatives are fully focused on getting this failing SNP government out at May’s Holyrood election.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: “My thoughts will always be with Epstein’s victims who deserve the truth and justice.
“For as long as the Prime Minister’s future hangs in the balance, the issues that people are grappling with every day and the abject failures of the SNP will play second fiddle.
“Household bills are soaring, there are long waits to see your GP, the SNP’s ferries fiasco is a national embarrassment and Scottish education just isn’t what it used to be.
“Scotland deserves better. It needs change with fairness at its heart. You can vote for it by backing the Scottish Liberal Democrats on your second peach coloured ballot in May.”
Scottish Green Co-leader Gillian Mackay said: “It’s a devastating day for Labour when even Anas Sarwar agrees that the Prime Minister cannot be trusted.
“How can he ask people to support a Labour party that is led by a man who even he thinks is unfit for office?
“This chaos can’t continue. Scotland deserves so much better than an incompetent Westminster government that is mired in infighting, controversy and scandal.
“There is no two ways about it, Keir Starmer has to go. Despite warnings, he appointed a senior ambassador who was linked to one of the world’s most prolific abusers of women and girls. You can’t do that and stay as Prime Minister.
“This is a basic moral test for every Labour MP. Will they join the call for Starmer to resign or will they continue to look the other way?”
Gillian added: “It’s not just Keir Starmer’s judgement that needs to be examined.
“As recently as a few days ago Anas was standing by his London leader. He also proudly posed with his ‘old friend’ years after everyone knew that Mandelson had stuck with Epstein.”
