Keir Starmer’s premiership is in freefall with the Scottish and Welsh Labour leaders set to call on him to quit.
Anas Sarwar, a Starmer ally, will use a press conference later on Monday to call for Sir Keir to stand down as Labour leader as the prime minister battles to remain in No 10 following the Peter Mandelson scandal. Welsh Labour leader Eluned Morgan, who has previously criticised Starmer, is expected to follow with the same message, The Independent understands.
The beleaguered prime minister was already fighting for survival after losing his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney over the crisis. His director of communications Tim Allan quit on Monday, less than 24 hours later.
Labour MPs are also preparing to confront the PM at a showdown meeting of the parliamentary Labour party at 6pm.
But with elections in Scotland and Wales in May, and with Labour trailing in the polls, the loyal Mr Sarwar has dealt what could be a fatal blow. He is the most senior Labour politician to call for Sir Keir to go.
It came after Downing Street insisted on Monday that Sir Keir would not resign and was “concentrating on the job in hand”.
