Keir Starmer must resign over Mandelson Epstein scandal, says Scottish Labour leader

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Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has called on the Prime Minister to resign
Sir Keir Starmer is facing extreme pressure as his leadership is gripped by the Mandelson Epstein scandal
Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney resigned over the appointment of Peter Mandelson on Sunday
Downing Street’s head of communications Tim Allan resigned on Monday morning
Starmer is not resigning and will be “concentrating on the job in hand”, Downing Street said

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has called on the Prime Minister to resign.

At a press conference on Monday, he said the “distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to end”.

Sarwar’s intervention comes as Sir Keir Starmer battles to remain in No 10 following the scandal surrounding Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment to Washington as British ambassador, despite his links to Jeffrey Epstein being known.

The Scottish Labour leader said: “It is so obvious that we desperately need change in Scotland and in three months’ time the opportunity to get rid of a failing SNP government is one that is too important to be missed.

“We cannot allow the failures at the heart of Downing Street to mean the failures continue here in Scotland, because the election in May is not without consequence for the lives of Scots.

“Keir Starmer is a decent man and it is no secret that I have always got on well with him – he has dedicated his life to public service. I have also dedicated myself to public service and I need to decide what I’m willing to accept and what I’m willing to tolerate.”

Sarwar went on to say there had been “too many mistakes” in Downing Street.

He added: “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.”

Starmer has faced increasing pressure in recent days over the appointment of Mandelson as US ambassador, with his chief of staff resigning on Sunday, followed by Downing Street’s head of communications on Monday.

But the Prime Minister’s colleagues in the Cabinet publicly backed him shortly after Sarwar’s statement.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “Rebuilding Britain takes time. But thanks to the decisions we’ve made NHS waiting lists are falling. Inflation is falling. Interest rates are falling.

“The conditions for the economy to grow are there. With Keir as our Prime Minister we are turning the country around.”

Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Later this week, Keir Starmer will lead our delegation to the Munich Security Conference.

“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.”

Deputy prime minister David Lammy, defence secretary John Healey, housing secretary Steve Reed and work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden also reiterated their support for the prime minister.

Douglas Alexander, secretary of state for Scotland, 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 remain focussed.”

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “Keir Starmer is one of only four Labour leaders ever to have won a general election.

“He has a clear five-year mandate from the British people to deliver change, and that is what he will do.”

Insight Lucy Dunn Westminster Correspondent

This is pivotal in the middle of a Scottish election campaign.

Scottish Labour MPs privately suggesting that a Starmer resignation now could provide a turning point for the party’s fortunes ahead of May – and “beat the current tragic expectations”.

Some suggest this high-risk move from Sarwar could plunge Labour into more chaos ahead of the Holyrood election – but the Scottish Labour leader doesn’t have much to lose.

Post GE24, Sarwar looked likely to become Scotland’s next FM. Now, in part due to the performance of Labour in Westminster, his party is at risk of becoming the third or even fourth largest after May.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing pressure to resign over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to the United States. Getty Images

McSweeney announced on Sunday he would step away from his role as chief aide, taking “full responsibility” for advising the Prime Minister to appoint Mandelson to the role from which he was sacked last year.

The peer, who resigned from the House of Lords last week, is under police investigation over allegations he sent government information to his friend, paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, at the height of the financial crash.

The investigation was sparked by information released by the US department of justice as part of the so-called Epstein files.

Sarwar – who described Mandelson as an “old friend” when he was given the posting to Washington DC – said the former UK Government minister was “a shame to our nation” last week.

“Peter Mandelson should never even have been considered to be the ambassador the US, he never should have been the ambassador to the US,” Sarwar said told reporters.

‘Starmer’s days as PM are numbered’ – Swinney

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar faced media questions about his response to the Peter Mandelson scandal following First Minister's Questions on February 5. — Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar faced media questions about his response to the Peter Mandelson scandal following First Minister’s Questions on February 5. Getty Images

First Minister John Swinney said on Monday that Starmer’s “days were numbered” after SNP Westminster Stephen Flynn leader called on the Prime Minister to “do the decent thing and resign”.

Flynn said: “It’s clear voters have lost confidence in Keir Starmer and, with his own MPs calling for him to go, he has become a lame duck leader who lacks the authority needed to deliver change.

“Anas Sarwar has shown real political cowardice over the Mandelson scandal.

Downing Street chief of staff Morgan McSweeney. Getty Images

“His ‘old friend’ is tearing the Labour Government apart and he’s nowhere to be seen.

“Sarwar wants voters to believe that he has what it takes to be First Minister but whenever there’s a Labour Party scandal he declines media interviews, ducks responsibility and runs scared of scrutiny.

“That isn’t someone who has the strength to stand up for Scotland. It’s time he came out of hiding, grew a backbone, and called for Keir Starmer to go.”