United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure to resign after the leader of the Scottish Labour Party called on him to step down over the political fallout linked to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Labour’s leader in Scotland, Anas Sarwar, said on Monday that the situation had become untenable.
“The distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change,” Sarwar said, intensifying internal party pressure on the prime minister.
His remarks came as two senior figures in Starmer’s team departed within days. Communications chief Tim Allan resigned on Monday “to allow a new No 10 team to be built,” while chief of staff Morgan McSweeney stepped down a day earlier.
Starmer has faced criticism for appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States despite Mandelson’s known links to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in a US prison in 2019.
Speaking to staff at Downing Street, Starmer sought to project confidence following the resignations.
“We must prove that politics can be a force for good. I believe it can. I believe it is. We go forward from here. We go with confidence as we continue changing the country,” he said.
A spokesperson for the prime minister dismissed speculation about his future, saying Starmer has no plans to stand aside and remains focused on governing.
“The prime minister is getting on with the task of delivering change across the country,” the spokesperson told reporters.
Despite growing criticism, Starmer has received support from several senior members of his government.
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy said the government must stay focused on its priorities.
“We should let nothing distract us from our mission to change Britain, and we support the prime minister in doing that,” Lammy said.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves also backed Starmer, writing on X: “With Keir as our Prime Minister we are turning the country around.”
Angela Rayner, Starmer’s former deputy and a potential leadership contender, offered her “full support” and urged party unity.
“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,” she said.
Opposition Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch sharply criticised Starmer’s leadership, accusing him of failing to control his government.
“He’s like a plastic bag blowing in the wind. We need him to get a grip, and if he can’t do it, then someone else in the Labour Party needs to do that, or they should have an election,” she told Sky News.
Mandelson’s name appeared in files released by the US Department of Justice relating to the Epstein investigation. He was dismissed by Starmer in September over his friendship with Epstein and last week resigned from both the Labour Party and the House of Lords.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has confirmed it is reviewing an exit payment made to Mandelson following his dismissal.
Starmer is expected to address a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party later, as anger continues to grow over his handling of the Mandelson appointment and the wider political fallout.
