Scottish Labour Leader Calls on UK Prime Minister Starmer to Resign

The leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Anas Sarwar, has publicly called on British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to resign from both his party leadership and his role as prime minister, citing mounting political challenges and declining support for Labour in Scotland.

Speaking at a press conference in Glasgow on 9 February 2026, Sarwar said repeated setbacks and internal turmoil within the UK Labour government had undermined public confidence, and that Starmer’s continued leadership could harm Labour’s prospects in the upcoming Scottish Parliament election. He described the situation in Downing Street as “not good enough,” while calling Starmer a “decent man” but arguing that change was necessary for the party’s future.

The latest intervention comes amid a wider political crisis for the UK government following criticism of Starmer’s appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson — the former Labour minister appointed as British ambassador to Washington — due to his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which has generated controversy and contributed to political pressure.

Sarwar’s call followed the resignations of two senior aides to Starmer — his chief of staff and director of communications — adding to concerns over leadership stability. Despite Sarwar’s demand, senior figures within the UK Labour Party, including Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, have publicly backed Starmer and urged unity, stressing Labour’s electoral mandate and the need to stay focused on governance rather than internal disputes.

Starmer, who led the party to victory in the 2024 UK general election, has resisted calls to quit, pledging to continue fighting for his agenda and to lead Labour into future elections. His supporters argue that the party must maintain cohesion to address national priorities and retain public confidence.