Keir Starmer has insisted he would not be forced from office as he faced down Labour lawmakers at a tense meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, declaring: “I have won every fight I've ever been in.”
“I fought to change the Crown Prosecution Service so it better served victims of violence against women and girls. I fought to change the Labour party to allow us to win an election again,” he said.
“People told me I couldn't do it… We won with a landslide majority. Every fight I've been in, I have won.”
The Prime Minister made clear he would not resign, telling colleagues he would not walk away from the mandate he had secured from the country.
He promised changes to his Downing Street operation that would go beyond “who sits where in Number 10”, conceding that relations with MPs had not been sufficiently “open” or “inclusive”.
Admitting that “things haven’t gone right”, he repeated that appointing Lord Mandelson had been wrong and said he took full responsibility.
Sir Keir also paid tribute to his former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who quit this week, and urged Labour to “take the fight” to Reform UK, insisting he had “the most working-class cabinet in history” behind him.
Cabinet Minister insists Keir Starmer will 'fight the election in 2029'
Emma Reybolds has insisted Keir Starmer will "fight the election in 2029" as she spoke with GB News after the Prime Minister led crunch talks with Labour lawmakers.
"The whole cabinet supports the Prime Minister," the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs stressed.
She assured that there was a "united front" behind Sir Keir among Labour Parliamentarians and that he would "fight the election in 2029".
Most senior civil servant 'set to resign' in latest departure from Government
The most senior civil servant in Downing Street is in talks over his departure as part of a sweeping overhaul of Keir Starmer’s premiership, sources have said.
Chris Wormald, the Cabinet Secretary, is understood to be negotiating the terms of his exit from No10.
If confirmed, he would become the third senior figure to leave within days.
Appointed just over a year ago, Mr Wormald has faced mounting pressure in recent months, with some allies of the Prime Minister privately describing his appointment as “disastrous”.
Keir Starmer departs crunch talks with MPs as future hangs in balance
Keir Starmer has departed the Commons committee room after speaking with Labour parliamentarians and peers as his future in No10 hangs by a thread.
The Prime Minister spoke with the assembled lawmakers for an hour after being greeted with applause upon arrival.
Streeting: ‘We can’t let this scandal be another that passes by without real change’
Wes Streeting called for “real change” in the wake of the Lord Peter Mandelson scandal.
The Health Secretary insisted he had never been a “close friend” of the disgraced peer, releasing several private messages between the pair.
“This is about culture and moral character,” Mr Streeting wrote in The Guardian.
He continued: “The real question is not simply how vetting failed, but how moral seriousness failed. A quick rush to fix the system – which will probably not stop the next scandal in any case – will close down the space in which we can arrive at serious changes; not just in process, but in culture and behaviour.
“We can’t let this scandal be another that passes by without real change.
“The rules we live by cannot substitute for behaviour. Politics is hard. Most of the choices are hard and some of them are tragic. But we need to accept that some forms of power are not worth the moral price they extract.”
Wes Streeting insists ‘I’ve got nothing to hide’ over Mandelson texts
Wes Streeting has insisted he has “nothing to hide” over private text exchanges with Lord Peter Mandelson.
"I'm happy for people to look at them and I'm happy to answer questions about them.
"I've got nothing to hide," the Health Secretary stressed, adding he was not embarrassed by their content.
Mr Streeting railed against “this implication that somehow I had something to hide and that there were going to be very embarrassing or damaging messages coming out".
The Health Secretary told Sky News he was happy to have his correspondence with the disgraced peer published in full.
In the texts, dated from August 2024 and October last year, Mr Streeting predicted he would be “toast” at the next general election.
He also told Lord Mandelson that the Government had no growth strategy and questioned No10’s communications operation.
Labour insider: Keir Starmer 'not going anywhere soon'
A Labour source has told GB News that the Prime Minister is currently safe in his post and the majority of MPs still stand with him.
"MPs aren't going to move against Keir," they told The People's Channel.
"The Socialist Campaign Group will, but the herd hasn't moved, and he's not going anywhere soon."
Reacting to the intervention of Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, one Labour MP told The People's Channel: “Anas has moved without any coordination.
"He’s jumped the gun.”
Nigel Farage predicts when Keir Starmer will resign as he issues brutal verdict on PM’s record
Nigel Farage has revealed when he thinks Keir Starmer will be forced to resign as PM as he issued a brutal verdict on the Labour leader’s premiership.
“It'll be remembered as a loveless victory in a general election that predominantly happened because of people's disgust at the Conservative Party, and that it was a premiership with no goals,” he told GB News.
“There was never a mountain, you know, in the distance to climb. There was never any clear direction of travel other than words like change that were trotted out.
“Much of what he did wasn't even in the manifesto, and because there was no driving mission, events forced him to U-turn again and again and again, a rudderless Prime Ministership led by a man who, whatever his talents may well have been, as a lawyer, is, frankly, just not a leader.”
“If I were a gambling man, Martin, you know, I'm a gambling man... I think he'll be gone before the end of the month”
WATCH: Reform UK supporters ERUPT in applause for GB News's Katherine Forster
GB News cheered as Katherine Forster poses question to Nigel Farage
After addressing supporters in Birmingham, Nigel Farage opened the event up to receive questions from journalists.
Among them was The People's Channel's own Katherine Forster, who, when introduced by Mr Farage, received thundering applause and cheers from the crowd.
"I don't think any other broadcaster would get a response like that," the Reform UK leader quipped.
After the cheers died down, Katherine said: “The Prime Minister's position is very precarious. You've talked about the national interest.
“What do you think the Prime Minister should do in the national interest? Should he resign now or in the coming weeks, when you said something much worse, could replace him. Could you elaborate on that?”
“Yes, look, if a prime minister loses credibility, can't command the House of Commons, can't command his own party, doesn't have respect internationally, that it's not in the national interest for him or her to stay,” Mr Farage responded.
“So I think that he should resign, and I think that he will, before very long, resign.”
Reform UK on 'election war footing'
Nigel Farage has announced Reform UK is on "general election war footing" as he predicted a vote could come sooner rather than later.
He confirmed that earlier today, the party was now open to receiving candidates to stand in the next election.
PM will be replaced by 'somebody far worse', Nigel Farage predicts
Nigel Farage has predicted Keir Starmer will leave office and be replaced by "somebody far worse".
"He won't be there for long. He'll be gone and replaced by somebody undoubtedly far worse," the Reform UK leader told supporters in Birmingham.
Nigel Farage blasts Keir Starmer: 'Most useless Prime Minister in living memory!'
| GB NEWS
Nigel Farage has fired a broadside at Keir Starmer, branding him the "most useless Prime Minister in living memory" and an "embarrassment to us on the world stage" amid chaos at Downing Street.
Speaking at an event in Birmingham, the Reform UK leader said that the "political life of the most unpopular and most useless Prime Minister in living memory is drawing to a close".
"The Mandalson saga tells you all that you need to know. Its depth, the number of people it involves, and the sheer level of corruption are probably the biggest political scandals we've seen for 100 years," he told the crowd.
"And it's not as if the PM wasn't warned. Everyone knew that the bloke was a wrongun. So McSweeney, in the short term, has carried the can, as you might have heard when you arrived, the Scottish leader, Anas Sarwar, has called on him to go.
"The cabinet is coming out one by one, being loyal, because none of them wants to appear to be the person that wields the knife.
"He (Sir Keir) has to meet the back bench Labour party at 6pm this evening, where I expect the conversation will be of a rather franker Nature.
"He won't be there for long. He'll be gone and replaced by somebody undoubtedly far worse."
Cabinet scrambles to support Keir Starmer after Anas Sarwar calls for his resignation
Cabinet Ministers scrambled to back Keir Starmer after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called on him to resign this afternoon.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy led the charge, sharing his support at 2:28 pm, just moments before Mr Sarwar began his address.
Within an hour, the majority of the Cabinet had confirmed their continued allegiance to the Prime Minister.
This included both Wes Streeting and Ed Miliband, who are considered contenders to replace Sir Keir in No10.
Exiled former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, another thought to be gunning for the top job, also voiced her backing for the embattled Labour leader.
Speaking in Glasgow earlier today, Mr Sarwar expressed his "personal hurt and pain" but admitted Labour "desperately needs" a change of leadership following "failures" inside Downing Street.
David Lammy responds sharply to GB News' Christopher Hope after being asked whether Keir Starmer should resign
Angela Rayner stands with Keir Starmer as she warns of 'playing party politics'
Angela Rayner has announced she will continue to back Keir Starmer as Prime Minister in a series of X posts.
"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," the former Deputy Prime Minister wrote.
"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.
Ms Rayner resigned from her roles on the front bench in September 2025 after a report concluded she had broken the Ministerial Code by underpaying stamp duty on a property purchase.
Shabana Mahmood: 'PM has my full support'
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has joined other Cabinet Ministers in backing Keir Starmer.
"The PM won a five year mandate from the British people just 18 months ago. Labour governments don't come along often," she wrote on X.
"It is a privilege to serve in one and we must not waste a second.
"The PM has my full support .Let's get on with changing the country for the better.
Scotland Secretary backs PM but admits 'lessons have to be learned' after Sarwar intervention
Scotland Secretary Douglas Alexander said the Prime Minister has recognised that “lessons have to be learned but also that we change how we do Government” as he said Sir Keir Starmer “has my support.”
He said in a statement posted on X: “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.”
Ed Miliband backs Prime Minister as pressure mounts: 'This is not the time!'
Another big name in the Labour fold has thrown his weight behind Sir Keir Starmer as pressure continues to mount on the Prime Minister.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has taken to X to insist Sir Keir “has earned the right to deliver the change he has promised and do what he cares about - which is to serve the country”.
He added: “This is not the time for the government to turn inwards on itself. We must focus on delivering the change we promised the country.”
Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar has called for Sir Keir to resign, triggering a wave of public statements from Cabinet members reaffirming their support for the struggling Prime Minister.
'Give Keir a chance! Wes Streeting throws weight behind PM despite accusations of No10 plot
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has backed Sir Keir Starmer in a major boost for the under pressure Prime Minister.
Mr Streeting is among the favourites to take the Labour leadership mantle should Sir Keir be toppled from his post.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Streeting said he still has confidence in the Prime Minister.
Asked if he needs to resign, the Health Secretary said: “No.”
He said it “has not been the best week for the Government” but insisted Labour MPs should give Sir Keir a chance.
The Cabinet Ministers who have publicly backed Keir Starmer
- David Lammy
- Lord Hermer
- Wes Streeting
- Ed Miliband
- Steve Reed
- Rachel Reeves
- Darren Jones
- John Healey
- Liz Kendall
- Jo Stevens
- Nick Thomas-Symonds
- Heidi Alexander
- Hilary Benn
- Yvette Cooper
- Bridget Phillipson
- Baroness Chapman
- Jonathan Reynolds
- Emma Reynolds
- Jo Stevens
- Lisa Nandy
- Douglas Alexander
- Lucy Powell
Anas Sarwar under fire over photo with 'old friend' Lord Mandelson
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has come under fire after a photo resurfaced showing him alongside his "old friend" Lord Mandelson.
Speaking in Glasgow, Mr Sarwar said: "It was right I had those conversations with him [Mandelson]."
He added: "He has betrayed this country, he has betrayed this party he was a member of, and he has betrayed the public."
Anas Sarwar admits Cabinet will decide PM's future
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has admitted that Cabinet Ministers will decide the Prime Minister's fate after he called for Sir Keir Starmer to resign.
Following his speech in Glasgow, Mr Sarwar said: “This is not a coordination, I am not speaking to others about what they do or don’t do.
“Ultimately it is for those in No 10, those around the Cabinet table and those in the UK Labour Party, that’s not a matter for me.”
He added: “I am standing to be Scotland’s First Minister. I am being open about my view. I could choose to keep my view a secret, I could choose to brief in private. That is not my approach ... I’m being my own man making my own decisions.”
However, more than half a dozen Cabinet Ministers have already thrown their weight behind the Prime Minister.
Defence Secretary: PM has my fullest support
Defence Secretary John Healey has confirmed Sir Keir Starmer has full support after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called on the Prime Minister to resign.
Mr Healey said: "The British public gave Keir a huge mandate only 18 months ago. They wanted a Labour Government.
"They want us to deliver the change we promised.
"They expect us to get on with the job. The PM has my fullest support in leading this government and this country."
Support Keir Starmer over Reform UK in 'battle for Britain', Darren Jones says
Cabinet Minister Darren Jones has urged Labour colleagues to continue to support Keir Starmer amid fears Reform UK could win the next general election.
In a social media post, Mr Jones said: "The battle for Britain in the years ahead is between a modern, diverse Britain led by Labour or a dark, divisive Britain under Reform.
"All of us in the Labour Party must get behind the Prime Minister, rise to the challenge and deliver a richer, fairer and stronger future."
No10 issues defiant response to Anas Sarwar statement
A No10 spokesman has hit back at Anas Sarwar's calls for Sir Keir Starmer to resign as Prime Minister.
Following the press conference, in which Mr Sarwar called for the Prime Minister to step down in the wake of the Lord Mandelson scandal, a spokesman 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."
Rachel Reeves: 'PM is turning Britain around'
A series of Cabinet Ministers have come out to voice their support for the Prime Minister following Anas Sarwar's call for Sir Keir Starmer to resign.
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."
'It's not good enough!' Anas Sarwar's scathing verdict on PM
Anas Sarwar held an emergency press conference in Glasgow
|GB NEWS
The Scottish Labour leader said: “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, but no one knows them, no one can hear them, because they’re being drowned out. That’s why it cannot continue.”
Anas Sarwar calls for Keir Starmer's resignation in damning assessment of PM
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has called on Sir Keir Starmer to resign as Prime Minister in an explosive press conference in Glasgow.
Mr Sarwar, who expressed his "personal hurt and pain", admitted Labour "desperately needs" a change of leadership following "failures" inside Downing Street.
“I am clear that I have to do what is right for my country, Scotland," the Scottish Labour leader added.
“This isn’t easy and it’s not without pain, as I have a genuine friendship with Keir Starmer. But my first priority and my first loyalty is to my country, Scotland.
“And I am not willing to sacrifice Scotland’s NHS, our schools, our communities, our towns, cities, villages and islands to a third decade of an SNP Government.
“That’s why the distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change.”
However, Mr Sarwar admitted that the Cabinet will ultimately decide Sir Keir's future.
Housing Sec joins Lammy in defending PM
Housing Secretary Steve Reed has joined David Lammy in defending Sir Keir Starmer.
He said: "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."
David Lammy: 'We support the Prime Minister's mission for change'
David Lammy has confirmed he will continue to support Sir Keir Starmer just moments before Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is expected to call on the Prime Minister to resign.
Mr Lammy said: "Keir Starmer won a massive mandate 18 months ago, for five years to deliver on Labour’s manifesto that we all stood on.
"We should let nothing distract us from our mission to change Britain and we support the Prime Minister in doing that."
'He has the spine of a jellyfish' - Reform Scotland leader gives damning report of Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar
The leader of Reform Scotland has given a damning report of Scottish Labour's leader, Anas Sarwar, ahead of his press conference in just under half an hour.
Malcolm Offord, leader of Reform Scotland, said: "Anas Sarwar has the spine of a jellyfish. He is desperately trying to save his own skin from a Prime Minister who is weak.
"Sarwar is Starmer's man in Scotland, he called Peter Mandelson is 'old friend' and he has been at the heart of the Labour establishment for years.
"The damage is done. Only Reform will clean up politics and offer Scotland hope."
Scottish Labour leader described Lord Mandelson as 'old friend' in old X post
The leader of Scottish Labour posted on X in April 2025 a picture of him and the now disgraced Lord Mandelson, describing him as an “old friend”.
Anas Sarwar, leader of Scottish Labour, posted a picture of himself and Lord Mandelson stood outside on some steps, with Mr Sarwar's arm around the disgraced ex-Ambassador.
The post writes: “It was great to catch up with my old friend and the UK’s (relatively!) new Ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson.”
Mr Sarwar is due to talk at a press conference in Glasgow at 2.30pm today, organised at short notice.
PM 'will not resign today' confirms Number 10 spokesman
The Prime Minister will “not resign today”, a No10 spokesman has said.
“He is getting on with the job in hand and delivering change across the country.
“The PM made the appointment decision. He has apologised for believing Mandelson's lies.”
The spokesman continued by describing Sir Keir Starmer as “upbeat”, “positive, confident and determined", and will set about clearing up Whitehall.
GB News's political editor, Christopher Hope, said: "No more resignations are forecast today."
Labour politicians 'downbeat' says Conservative MP
Neil Shastri-Hurst, Conservative MP for Solihull West and Shirley, described Labour MPs as “downbeat”.
Speaking to GB News, Mr Shastri-Hurst said crises after crises within the Government has caused Labour MPs to feel the turmoil has “impinged on their integrity”.
Referring to the further revelations of last week about Lord Madelson’s connections with convicted paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein, he said: “This is the worst political crisis since Profumo - it’s worse than Profumo.”
The MP for Solihull West and Shirley said the Prime Minister should step down, as he is an "honourable man".
He said: "If the Prime Minister took a step back and looked at it deeply, he'd realise the damage this is doing to the country, not just to the trust the public have in politics domestically, but the brands of UK plc internationally."
Reform warns Tories ‘can’t be trusted’ to protect Britain’s interests
On a post on X, Reform UK’s account warned that the Conservative Party "can't be trusted to protect Britain's interests".
The post said: “The Tories spent over £150 billion on foreign aid in 14 years. Yet left our Armed Forces defenceless.
“They can’t be trusted to protect Britain’s interests.”
The post was a response to Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge, who wrote a series of X posts, writing, “Britain has enough ammunition to fight for eight days”.
Mr Tugendhat wrote he is “drawing back the curtain” on the reality of Britain’s defences because it is “too urgent for silence.”
Sir Keir Starmer criticised the Conservatives in June 2024 that they had cut the Army to its smallest size “since Napoleon”.
Kemi Badenoch warns PM position is in ‘peril’
Kemi Badenoch said that the Prime Minister is in 'peril' | GB NEWS Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch told GB News that Sir Keir Starmer's position is in "peril."
Referring to yesterday's resignation of Morgan McSweeney, the leader of the opposition said: “The person providing advice when asked, has gone, but the person who made the decision is still in post.
“It says a lot about the Prime Minister’s judgement.”
Ms Badenoch also told GB News that was the nation was "not being governed".
When asked who should replace the Prime Minister if he resigned, she avoided the answer, but eventually said it should be her and her "team of Conservatives".
PM makes defiant statement following double resignation
Sir Keir Starmer has addressed Downing Street staff today, telling them they shared a common "driving purpose" rooted in "public duty".
Speaking about recent revelations concerning Lord Mandelson, the Prime Minister expressed frustration at how such matters damage faith in political institutions.
"The thing that makes me most angry is the undermining of the belief that politics can be a force for good and can change lives," Sir Keir said.
The Prime Minister also confirmed he regrets appointing the ex-Business Secretary as the UK's Ambassador to the US.
He said: "I have been absolutely clear that I regret the decision that I made to appoint Peter Mandelson. And I've apologised to the victims which is the right thing to do."
Turning to his former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, the Prime Minister spoke warmly of their eight-year working relationship and friendship.
"We changed the Labour Party together. We won a general election together. And none of that would have been possible without Morgan McSweeney," he added.
The Prime Minister also outlined key Government priorities, including addressing living costs and reducing NHS waiting times.
Looking ahead, he announced plans to begin lifting half a million children out of poverty within months, calling it "a massive thing to do in this country" that would transform lives for generations.
READ IN FULL: Tim Allan's brief resignation statement
Tim Allan said: “I have decided to stand down to allow a new No10 team to be built. I wish the PM and his team every success.”
Who is Tim Allan? The PM's comms guru who just resigned from No10
Sir Keir Starmer appointed Tim Allan as his director of communications in September 2025 following the departure of Steph Driver.
He previously served as an adviser to Sir Tony Blair between 1992 and 1998.
The PR consultant became the then-Prime Minister's deputy director of communications, working alongside Alastair Campbell in No10.
Despite being a leading figure in the New Labour project, Mr Allan also served on the board of the gender critical Sex Matters group.
Mr Allan founded the public relations consultancy firm Portland Communications in 2001, later selling a stake in the company for an estimated £20million.
Labour MP delivers stark verdict ahead of PM's crunch meeting
Labour MP Calvin Bailey has said the Labour Party has "lost sight of the task" as pressure mounts on Sir Keir Starmer following Morgan McSweeney's resignation.
Speaking to GB News, the Leyton & Wanstead MP said: “Part of the problem is that we’ve got a lot of people fixating on the polls daily and perhaps have lost sight of the task that’s in front of us.
“We all said we would put country first, in doing so, we should be putting our country first and getting that work done.”
When asked about whether internal unrest was happening against Sir Keir, Mr Bailey said it would be “wrong” to say there is a “tiny minority” in the party rebelling.
“There is a large majority like myself that entered politics and this Parliament to fix the country, we are very clear and focused about doing that,” he said.
Referring to the revelation last week about the Government’s knowledge of Lord Mandelson’s connection with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Mr Bailey described it as “extremely upsetting and distressing”.
He said: “Once we’re through this, we have to ask ourselves how we go about what’s best for the country and not for the party.
“We need to stop being so introspective as a party.”
RECAP: The downfall of Morgan McSweeney
The downfall of Morgan McSweeney | GB NEWS/PA/GETTY‘Clock is ticking!’ Keir Starmer braces for showdown with Labour MPs as PM plays final card
Sir Keir Starmer will tonight face a grilling from backbench Labour MPs as the Prime Minister looks to reassure his Commons colleagues following Morgan McSweeney’s bombshell resignation.
Labour MPs have become increasingly restless about Sir Keir’s premiership after the Prime Minister admitted he knew Lord Mandelson visited the home of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein before he was appointed as the UK’s Ambassador to the US.
A senior Labour MP told GB News: “Starmer has to come out fighting and do what needs to be done to cleanse politics.
“This includes people around him. The sterile test has to be ‘do they have Peter Mandelson's phone number in their contacts?’
“The clock is ticking, this has to be announced and implemented immediately.”
‘Anything could happen!’ Christopher Hope’s snap analysis ahead of PM’s crunch showdown with Labour MPs
Welcome to Downing Street. A hive of activity. The Prime Minister is under fire. His chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, has gone.
If he felt he should resign over the appointment of Peter Mandelson, why isn’t the PM resigning too? Why is the adviser going rather than the guy who held the pen on the appointment?
The problem for many Labour MPs who are concerned about Sir Keir’s leadership is who might replace him. There isn’t really an obvious candidate. And that itself is shoring up the PM ahead of his meeting with the Parliamentary Labour Party.
The usual left-wingers have been calling for him to go, including John McDonnell. But others are holding on because they’re not sure what happens next.
Will there be a Cabinet resignation? Will there be moves against the Prime Minister? Will there be a show of hands of confidence in the PM tonight?
Anything can happen in Parliament.
PM 'opened up discussions' on Jimmy Lai case with President Xi despite sentencing today
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has responded to the sentencing of British pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai.
Ms Cooper said in a statement: "British National Jimmy Lai was today sentenced to 20 years in prison in Hong Kong for exercising his right to freedom of expression, following a politically motivated prosecution. Beijing’s National Security Law was imposed on Hong Kong to silence China’s critics.
"I remain deeply concerned for Mr Lai’s health, and I again call on the Hong Kong authorities to end his appalling ordeal and release him on humanitarian grounds, so that he may be reunited with his family."
The Foreign Secretary said the Prime Minister raised Mr Lai's case directly with President Xi Jinping during his trip to China last week, which apparently "opened up discussions".
She said: "We stand with the people of Hong Kong, and will always honour the historical commitments made under the legally binding Sino-British Joint Declaration. China must do the same."
Mr Lai, 78, was jailed for so-called "national security offences" in the former British Crown Colony - after being arrested and charged during China's mass crackdown in 2020.
SNP leader warns PM in position of ‘complete weakness’ after Morgan McSweeney resignation
The Prime Minister’s position is one of “complete weakness”, Scotland’s First Minister has said.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland earlier this morning, John Swinney said: “All that’s happened in recent days demonstrates an appalling judgment by the Prime Minister in appointing Peter Mandelson as the ambassador to the United States.
The First Minister laid blame on Sir Keir Starmer for Lord Mandelson's appointment, calling it a "demonstration of his complete weakness as Prime Minister".
He referred to the appointment of the disgraced ex-US ambassador as a "terrible decision".
The SNP leader has served as Scotland's First Minister since 2024.
'He's fatally wounded!' Top Tory predicts 'no way back' for PM over Lord Mandelson scandal
Tory Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake appeared on GB News Breakfast
|GB NEWS
There is "no way back" for Sir Keir Starmer following revelations about Lord Mandelson's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, a top Tory has claimed.
Tory Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake, who appeared on GB News Breakfast, said: "Advisers advise and ministers decide.
"Keir Starmer has got to take responsibility. It's his judgment. Ultimately, I think he's fatally wounded, there will be a change, I am sure of that."
MI5 issues 'first-ever foreign interference' briefing following Lord Mandelson probe
Intelligence services have delivered an all-party foreign interference briefing after it was alleged that Lord Mandelson leaked confidential information to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
MI5 last week told political parties about how to spot foreign interference in British politics.
The advice also comes after Reform UK's ex-Welsh leader Nathan Gill was jailed for taking bribes to make pro-Russian statements as an MEP.
'Nigel Farage will set out Reform Cabinet in coming days,' Robert Jenrick tells GB News
Nigel Farage will set out Reform UK's Shadow Cabinet in the coming days, Robert Jenrick has told GB News.
Mr Jenrick, who defected from the Tories to Reform UK last month, said: "Well, you're going to have to wait and see. Nigel is going to do a speech in Birmingham, and he's going to set out the next steps, including, most importantly, that we're going to make a big offer to the country to come and be a Reform candidate.
"Because yes, it's important to have some people with experience, some people like myself, who chose to leave the old political parties and to join something new and exciting and fresh.
"But actually, you know what? We really want people who are business people, tradesmen, farmers, veterans, teachers, doctors, people who've run prisons well or great hospitals, really good head teachers.
"We want people from outside of politics, frankly, who've been shunned by the two old failed political parties to come forward, stand for reform and help us to build a very different political party at the next general election, which may not now be in 2029, because you can easily see a general election happening next year now, or even sooner."
'He'll come out strong!' Labour MP predicts PM will stay in No10 ahead of crunch meeting
John Slinger discussed the Prime Minister's future on GB News this morning
|GB NEWS
Labour MP John Slinger has told GB News that Sir Keir Starmer will "come out of this well" following the resignation of the Prime Minister's right-hand man Morgan McSweeney.
Mr Slinger said: "I think he will come out of it well. It's clearly been a very difficult time.
"It's been a difficult, not just a few days, but a difficult few weeks, but the Prime Minister, I am very confident, will come out of this strong and we're going to see that over the coming days."
The Rugby MP claimed he has received emails and spoken to voters who wanted to see Sir Keir remain as Prime Minister.
However, a recent YouGov poll suggested just 24 per cent of voters want Sir Keir to stay on, with 50 per cent supporting his resignation.
'Xi Jinping SPITTING in Keir Starmer's face!' - PM condemned after British activist jailed for 20 years in China's Hong Kong
Sir Keir Starmer will be waking up to another barrage of attacks today after British pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in a Hong Kong prison.
Mr Lai, 78, was jailed for so-called "national security offences" in the former British Crown Colony - after being arrested and charged during China's mass crackdown in 2020.
Sir Keir discussed the case with Chinese President Xi Jinping last month on a visit to Beijing.
But after Mr Lai's imprisonment, campaigners and China hawks have twisted the knife on the PM.
In a vicious attack on Britain's handling of the case, Luke de Pulford of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China added: "This is Xi spitting into Starmer's face - if the Beijing trip wasn’t humiliating enough" - a message re-shared by Sir Iain Duncan Smith on social media.
JUST IN: Sadiq Khan reveals his 'ultimate goal' is to REVERSE Brexit - 'We need Europe!'
Sir Sadiq Khan has said his "ultimate goal" is to reverse Brexit.
The Mayor of London revealed he eventually wants Britain to rejoin the EU, and believes it will happen within his lifetime.
In the meantime, he called for Britain to rejoin the single market and customs union - flying directly in the face of his party.
Sir Sadiq went onto brand Brexit "the biggest act of economic self-harm any country’s ever done"...
Team Rayner and Team Streeting both coy on leadership bid - even as MPs smell blood in the water
Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner's teams both denied any plotting was underway
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Last night, a spokesman for Wes Streeting claimed neither Wes nor his team "have asked anyone to not book leave or asked MPs to lend staff for a campaign".
They added: "Wes's entire focus has been on cutting waiting lists for the first time in 15 years, getting ambulances to arrive 15 minutes faster than last year and improving patient satisfaction with access to GPs."
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Angela Rayner denied a leadership challenge was underway.
"She will assist the HMRC inquiry in any way possible, will pay every penny she owes, and knows the inquiry will take as long as it takes," they added.
Labour MPs launch public rebellion in crisis for PM
Last night, multiple Labour MPs came out to publicly revolt against Sir Keir Starmer after Morgan McSweeney resigned.
Rachael Maskell said if he had not understood he needs to make the Labour Party "inclusive", he will find it "very difficult to continue".
The Labour MP told BBC Radio 4: "Let’s listen very carefully over the coming days to see that Keir Starmer has really understood how serious it is, the situation, what he has to do to build that inclusive party.
"And if he can achieve that, if he puts the agenda of inclusion, of building the confidence that he’s going to address those inequalities, not just in his party but across the country, then of course we will see where we get to.
"But if he cannot do that, if he hasn’t understood the seriousness of the situation, then I think he will find it very difficult to continue."
Scottish Labour MP Brian Leishman, meanwhile, unleashed a fiery broadside at his boss.
"There must be a change in political direction and that comes from the very top, so the Prime Minister must look at his own position and question whether he should follow McSweeney's lead one last time, and resign for the good of the country and the Labour Party," Mr Leishman said.
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