Anas Sarwar paves the way for others to topple Keir Starmer
This is a bold move from the Scottish Labour leader, but he has nothing to lose
Anas Sarwar will become the most senior Labour figure to call for Sir Keir Starmer to resign this afternoon.
It is a bold move from the Scottish Labour leader, but he has nothing to lose.
Having won two-thirds of the seat at the general election, his party is now set to lose ground in May and could come behind Reform UK.
And the reason for this is that the public dislikes the Prime Minister and the UK Government.
Scottish MPs are frustrated with the Prime Minister for his poor decision making over the past 18 months.
They were grateful to Sir Keir for having turned the tide and most would not have thought of replacing Sir Keir as they felt they owed him for winning their seats.
But since the Mandelson-Epstein affair, things have changed.
Read more: Live updates as Anas Sarwar set to call for Keir Starmer to quit as Prime Minister
Previous party loyalists, who would never dream of rebelling or criticising the PM, have been saying that Sir Keir’s time is over.
There have been too many mistakes. The government asked Labour MPs to go against their principles with the winter fuel payment and disability benefit cuts.
This quickly lost the goodwill that they had.
These MPs have acknowledged that the PM will not survive both the Gorton and Denton by-election and May’s elections in Scotland, Wales and English councils.
When you lose these non-factional people, who will back the leader in almost every situation, then the game is up.
There are very few Scottish Labour MPs who will be upset about this.
They know something needs to be done if they are to turn things around - and most of them will be out of a job in 2029 if nothing changes.
This is Mr Sarwar’s last throw of the dice as he tries to take advantage of the best opportunity to boot the SNP out of office in over a decade.
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And by sticking the knife in before any other senior figures, he at least gains a bit of credibility.
Sir Keir may struggle on for a bit, but he has to know now that road is running out for him.
Mr Sarwar has made it easier for Cabinet members to now speak out and say the Prime Minister should go.
They will use him for cover and gradually call for the PM to go themselves.
Mr Sarwar has paved the way for others to put the knife in.
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