Starmer’s back just had the first knife plunged in – he won’t survive | Politics | News
After hours of wondering who would be the first to demand an end to the Starmer era of British politics, we finally have an answer. Scottish Labor leader Anas Sarwar plunged the knife into Keir Starmer’s back in another devastating “et tu, Brute” moment in British politics.
Speaking at an urgent press conference this afternoon, Mr Sarwar said his message was not an easy one as he had a “real friendship” with Sir Keir. But his first priority is Scotland and the Prime Minister now risks sacrificing the country to the SNP’s third decade of rule. “That is why the distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street needs to change… We cannot let this mean that the failures at the heart of Downing Street continue here in Scotland.”
“I have to be honest about the failure; the situation in Downing Street is not good enough. There have been too many mistakes. They promised to be different but too much has happened.”
While the Scottish leader’s intervention was brutal, all eyes will now be on whether any Cabinet Ministers will be brave enough to follow through.
Whatever they say will undoubtedly have more validity than Mr. Sarwar’s intervention. Let’s not forget that under Boris Johnson, the leader of the Scottish Conservative Party repeatedly called on him to leave; these demands were largely ignored south of the border.
One of the strange features of our day has been the complete radio silence of Labor MPs and ministers.
Even in the final days of both Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, No 10 operatives managed to find supportive frontrunners willing to appear on the BBC and Sky News and swing their leader’s favour.
But today there was no sound. Where do Starmerians tell us he is the right man to be Prime Minister? If he leaves, will there be chaos? Is this what Reform and the Conservatives want most?
It has been 24 hours since we last heard from a Cabinet member. But their silence shows that they know the game is over and are preparing for their leadership campaign.
No doubt many were hoping to wait a few more months. This morning one of Kemi Badenoch’s advisers told me they still believe they will let Starmer wait until the local elections.
Neither wants to take the crown because they would have to deal with potentially crushing losses in the Gorton and Denton byelections and the May municipal elections.
On top of that, Wes Streeting needs time to cool off his ties to Peter Mandelson and Angela Rayner remains under investigation by HMRC over her taxes.
Meanwhile, Keir Starmer is in the dugout. We haven’t heard from him and No 10 continues to insist we won’t hear from him all day until he speaks to Labor MPs privately this evening.
This morning the Prime Minister’s spokesman even went so far as to claim that he was “optimistic” and “confident”.
The truth is that Keir Starmer is currently hiding somewhere in the rabbit warren of Downing Street with a gun and a bottle of whiskey.
