Scottish Labour Party leader Anas Sarwar calls on Keir Starmer to resign
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Labour’s cabinet ministers are throwing their support behind Keir Starmer after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar piled on further pressure and called for him to quit as prime minister on Monday.
David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, and Wes Streeting are among those who have rallied around Sir Keir, and rejected calls for his resignation, with former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner also joining forces.
When asked whether the prime minister would be resigning, Mr Lammy said: “We’ve waited 14 years to get here, no.”
Mr Sarwar’s major intervention came at a press conference arranged by the Scottish leader, a Starmer ally, in Glasgow.
Downing Street insisted Sir Keir would not quit following Anas Sarwar’s call for him to resign.
The beleaguered prime minister was already fighting for survival after losing his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney over the crisis at the weekend. His director of communications Tim Allan quit on Monday, less than 24 hours later.
Despite the show of support from his party, Labour MPs are preparing to confront the PM at a showdown meeting of the parliamentary Labour Party at 6pm.
Transport secretary backs calls for Starmer to stay
UK transport secretary Heidi Alexander has backed Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar was “wrong” to call on him to resign.
“I respect Anas Sarwar,” she said on Monday. “But he is wrong. Keir led our party to a General Election victory 18 months ago and he is the right person for the job in difficult circumstances.
“The public want us to fix the country’s problems, not fixate on ourselves.”
(PA Wire)
Maira Butt9 February 2026 16:12
Rayner joins calls for Starmer to stay
Angela Rayner has come out in “full support” of Keir Starmer despite speculation that she might try to launch a leadership campaign against the prime minister.
“The recent scandal around Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein was shocking – and demands that both this government and our party learn the lessons, and act on them,” she said in a post to social media on Monday.
“But the worst possible response would be to play party politics or factional games. Labour is only getting started on changing things for the better – our Employment Rights Act, renters’ rights, leasehold reform, free school meals and lifting kids out of poverty.
“I urge all my colleagues to come together, remember our values and put them into practice as a team. The Prime Minister has my full support in leading us to that end.”
Harriette Boucher9 February 2026 15:59
Sadiq Khan said Starmer needs to be given more time
London’s mayor has said the prime minister needs to be given time to deliver as he adds to calls that Keir Starmer should stay.
In a post on social media, Sadiq Khan said: “Keir Starmer was elected with a huge majority and needs to be given the time to deliver, especially given the extremely challenging circumstances he inherited after 14 years of Tory governments.”
(Getty)
Harriette Boucher9 February 2026 15:53
‘He’s made too many mistakes, but he needs the opportunity to recover’, says Labour MP
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.”
(PA Archive)
Harriette Boucher9 February 2026 15:35
Cabinet minister says he ‘hopes’ Keir Starmer stays as PM
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.”
Harriette Boucher9 February 2026 15:26
Scottish Labour secretary lends support to Starmer
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.”
(PA Wire)
Harriette Boucher9 February 2026 15:23
‘Not the time for the government to turn inward on itself’, says Miliband
Keir has earned the right to deliver the change he has promised and do what he cares about – which is to serve the country.
This is not the time for the government to turn inwards on itself. We must focus on delivering the change we promised the country.
— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) February 9, 2026
Harriette Boucher9 February 2026 15:18
Streeting: ‘Give Keir a chance’
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.
Harriette Boucher9 February 2026 15:16
Pat McFadden latest to throw support behind PM
As someone said to me in the constituency on Friday “tell your boss to keep going.”
I did and I hope he does. 🌹
— Pat McFadden (@patmcfaddenmp) February 9, 2026
Harriette Boucher9 February 2026 15:04
Foreign secretary says Starmer will still be prime minister by weekend
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.
— Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) February 9, 2026
Harriette Boucher9 February 2026 15:00
