Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has fought off calls to resign from within his own party, securing public support from his Cabinet. He will now undertake a community visit to focus on the cost-of-living crisis, while his Downing Street operation undergoes significant restructuring.
The pressure mounted after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for Starmer's resignation on Monday, citing the Peter Mandelson scandal fallout as a potential "distraction" ahead of May's crucial Holyrood elections where Labour aims to unseat the SNP.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband acknowledged the severity of the situation in a morning media round. He told BBC Breakfast: «In a sense, yesterday was a moment of peril for the Prime Minister. I make no bones about that.» However, he defended the Cabinet's decision: «But, as a collective body, the Cabinet, the Labour Party looked at the alternatives of going down this road of a chaotic leadership election, trying to depose a prime minister, and they said 'no, that's not for us'.»
Defiant Stance
At a Parliamentary Labour Party meeting in Westminster on Monday night, Starmer delivered a defiant response. «I've won every fight I've ever been in,» he told MPs, adding he was «not prepared to walk away». The statement received a warm reception, suggesting the immediate threat to his position has receded.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch intensified opposition pressure on Tuesday, writing in the Daily Telegraph that Starmer had «proved incapable of doing the things a prime minister needs to do». She claimed some Labour MPs would back a no-confidence motion, though not enough to pass it. When pressed by broadcasters about specific numbers, she refused to «go down the rabbit hole of exactly how many there are».
No 10 Reshuffling
Starmer is simultaneously overhauling his Downing Street operation after what sources describe as a "bruising start to 2026". Chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and communications chief Tim Allan have already departed. The country's top civil servant, Sir Chris Wormald, is rumored to be leaving in the coming days.
Miliband emphasized the urgency of addressing the cost-of-living burden, telling Sky News: «The biggest issue we face as a country – and your viewers will face this – is that for nearly 20 years now, we've had a long-standing cost-of-living crisis, not just a few years when Russia invaded Ukraine and bills went through the roof, and people are hurting.» He called for bolder government action, stating «the job for all of us is to work out how to be bolder».
The Prime Minister will travel to the Munich Security Conference at the end of the week, where the future of the transatlantic alliance is a key concern. Miliband suggested the public will see more of «the private Keir I know» – describing him as «passionate» and «clear about his purpose» – as the Prime Minister seeks to revive his political fortunes.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
