Angela Rayner pledges her ‘full support’ to Keir Starmer as his premiership is rocked by Scottish Labour chief calling him to quit: Live updates

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said Sir Keir Starmer had her ‘full support’ and called for her party to ‘get on with changing the country for the better’.

Ms Mahmood said in a post on X:

The PM won a five-year mandate from the British people just 18 months ago. Labour governments don’t come along often. 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.

Ms Mahmood is also seen as a possible leadership contender in the event of a contest to replace Starmer.

Angela Rayner, Keir Starmer’s former housing secretary and ex-Labour deputy leader, has also pledged her support to the Prime Minister.

In a statement on X, Ms Rayner called on Labour to avoid ‘party politics’ and ‘factional games’ in the wake of the Peter Mandelson scandal.

She wrote:

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

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.

Labour Party deputy leader Lucy Powell said Keir Starmer has her ‘full support’, but added there was a need to be more ‘inclusive and collaborative in the way we work’.

She wrote on X:

I will (be) sitting alongside Keir Starmer at the PLP this evening as Deputy Leader with my full support.

He and I have been discussing in recent days, and before, how we need to do better to take the fight to Reform (as we are doing in Gorton & Denton) and by showing we are on the side of ordinary people. That also means being more inclusive and collaborative in the way we work. Keir gets that.

I very much look forward to continuing that work together as one Labour team, with Keir as our leader. I know most colleagues feel the same.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has also backed Keir Starmer with a statement on X.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Wes Streeting have yet to post their own statements although Mr Streeting told a podcast the Prime Minister ‘doesn’t need to resign’.

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander is among the slew of Cabinet ministers to back Keir Starmer to remain as Prime Minister – putting him now at odds with the leader of Scottish Labour Anas Sarwar.

In his statement backing the PM, Mr Alexander 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 remain focussed.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting, widely seen as a possible frontrunner to succeed Keir Starmer, has insisted the Prime Minister does not need to resign.

Speaking to Sky News on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Mr Streeting said he has confidence in Starmer as Cabinet colleagues rally around to protect him.

He said it hadn’t been the ‘best week’ for the Government but urged Labour MPs to give Starmer a chance ahead of a meeting tonight.

Anas Sarwar faced questions about his own links to Peter Mandelson after he described the disgraced peer as an ‘old friend’.

Mr Sarwar said he had known Lord Mandelson since 2021 and had met him in Washington.

The Scottish Labour leader also said he had spoken to the former US ambassador to promote Scotland’s interests.

He said:

Is that something, someone I want to be associated with? No.

He has betrayed this country, he has betrayed the party he was once a member of and he has betrayed the public in terms of his actions and his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has backed the Prime Minister.

The former Labour leader said in a post on X:

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.

Mr Miliband, a former Labour leader, has been touted as a possible successor to Keir Starmer in the event of his resignation.

Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds has also echoed his colleagues support for Keir Starmer as he called for an end to ‘infighting’.

Here’s his X post below:

And Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander insisted Anas Sarwar was wrong for calling on Starmer to quit.

by James Tapsfield, UK Political Editor

Keir Starmer is clinging to power by his fingernails today after the Scottish Labour leader declared open civil war.

Anas Sarwar delivered a shattering blow to the PM’s hopes of survival, insisting he must go after the Mandelson scandal.

Mr Sarwar said he viewed Sir Keir as a ‘friend’ and a ‘decent man’ but there had been ‘too many mistakes’.

‘The distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change,’ he told a press conference.

He had already told Sir Keir to stay away from Scotland ahead of crucial May elections because he is politically toxic.

However, the premier immediately sounded defiance, with a Downing Street spokesman saying: ‘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.’

Defence Secretary John Healey said Sir Keir Starmer had his ‘fullest support’.

He said in a post on X:

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.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper are the latest minister to back Keir Starmer as his Cabinet starts the process of rallying around him.

They join deputy PM David Lammy and Chancellor Rachel Reeves in signalling their support for the Prime Minister.