Keir Starmer: I will never walk away

Keir Starmer has pledged to “never walk away” the day after Anas Sarwar called for the end of his leadership.

The prime minister, making his first public statement following days of speculation, said the “fight” his party should be having it not with itself but with political opponents.

His cabinet colleagues rallied around him yesterday afternoon as Sarwar said the party needed a change of leader, amid the ongoing row over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.

The prime minister apologised for the appointment last week, adding that Mandelson had lied during the vetting process about the extent of his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

But his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, resigned over the weekend over the matter. McSweeney said he accepted “full responsibility” for the appointment, with police now investigating Mandelson for misconduct in public office.

This put pressure on Starmer, coming to a head with the Scottish Labour leader saying he had become a “distraction”.

But addressing an audience in Hertfordshire this afternoon, Starmer said: “There are some people in recent days who say the Labour government should have a different fight, a fight with itself, instead of a fight for the millions of people who need us to fight for them.

“I say to them, I will never walk away from the mandate I as given to change this country. I will never walk away from the people that I’m charged with fighting for. And I will never walk away from the country I love.”

He added that the “real fight” was with right-wing politicians.

Yesterday afternoon, Sarwar held a press confidence in Glasgow where he said Starmer was a “decent man” but the “situation in Downing Street” was “not good enough”.

“The distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change,” he said.

Just before the Scottish Labour leader spoke, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy tweeted his backing for Starmer, saying he had won a “massive mandate” 18 months ago.

Other cabinet colleagues swiftly followed, including Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander – who is co-chairing Scottish Labour’s Holyrood push.

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.”