Anas Sarwar, leader of Scottish Labour, is expected to call for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to step down from his role. This action, set to be announced at a press conference, marks a significant moment as Sarwar becomes one of the most prominent Labour politicians to publicly demand Starmer's resignation. The pressure on Starmer has intensified following recent events, prompting this development.
## Timeline of Events
Recent days have seen growing dissent within the Labour Party. On Sunday, Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's chief of staff and closest advisor, resigned. This resignation was stated as taking responsibility for advising the Prime Minister to appoint Peter Mandelson as Ambassador to the UK, despite known links to Jeffrey Epstein. Tim Allen, Starmer's director of communications, has also resigned. These departures have not quelled the calls for Starmer's resignation.
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The political landscape in Scotland is also a factor. Opinion polls indicate the SNP is leading, with Scottish Labour trailing and in a contest with Reform UK for second place in Holyrood voting intentions.
Core Development: Sarwar's Stance
Anas Sarwar is scheduled to hold an unscheduled press conference at 2:30 PM on Monday, February 9th, in Glasgow. At this event, he is widely anticipated to call for Keir Starmer to resign as both Prime Minister and Labour leader.
This move by Sarwar is significant as he is expected to be the most senior serving Labour politician to publicly break ranks and demand the Prime Minister's resignation.
Background to the Pressure on Starmer
The immediate catalyst for the escalating pressure appears to be Keir Starmer's decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as US Ambassador. Reports indicate that Starmer was aware of Mandelson's continued association with Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein's conviction. This has led to criticism and demands for accountability.
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## Key Points:
Peter Mandelson's appointment: Starmer's awareness of Mandelson's links to Jeffrey Epstein prior to the ambassador appointment.
Resignations: The resignations of Morgan McSweeney (Chief of Staff) and Tim Allen (Director of Communications).
Scottish Labour's standing: Trailing the SNP in Scottish opinion polls.
Calls for Resignation
Sources indicate that Anas Sarwar's frustration with the Prime Minister's handling of the situation has been growing. His decision to publicly call for Starmer's resignation is seen as a direct challenge to the Prime Minister's authority.
"The Conservatives are urging Labour MPs to replace Keir Starmer." - Article 3
"Morgan McSweeney needed to go, but so too does Starmer." - Statement attributed to Morgan McSweeney, via Article 3
"Downing Street will now be on red alert for any government ministers – especially those with Scottish seats – following Sarwar and demanding the PM’s resignation." - Article 5
Possible Motivations and Calculations
The timing of Sarwar's announcement, and the decision to call for Starmer's resignation, could be influenced by several factors:
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Political Strategy: Is this a calculated move to improve Scottish Labour's standing by distancing the party from a embattled Prime Minister? Does it aim to galvanize voters ahead of potential future elections?
Principle: Is Sarwar acting on a matter of principle regarding the ethical considerations of the Mandelson appointment?
Party Unity: While Sarwar is breaking ranks, is this an attempt to force a wider party reckoning or leadership change?
The situation presents a complex political challenge for Keir Starmer, with significant figures within his own party questioning his leadership.
Expert Analysis
While direct expert quotes are not available in the provided text, the narrative suggests a situation where:
Starmer's leadership is facing "mutinous MPs" and "anger."
Sarwar's action is described as a "hammer blow" to Starmer's authority.
The calculation behind Sarwar's move likely involves the poor polling for Scottish Labour and the perceived impact of Starmer's leadership on those figures.
Conclusion and Implications
The forthcoming statement from Anas Sarwar is poised to intensify the existing pressure on Keir Starmer. As the leader of Scottish Labour, Sarwar's public demand for resignation carries considerable weight. This event could precipitate further challenges to Starmer's leadership, potentially leading to internal party struggles or a broader crisis of confidence. The involvement of figures like Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein adds a layer of ethical controversy that is likely to be central to the narrative.
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The resignation of key staff members and Sarwar's impending call for resignation indicate a period of significant turbulence for Keir Starmer and the Labour Party.
Sources:
BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c74wd01egvyt - Published ~23 hours ago. Provides initial reporting on Sarwar's expected call for resignation, linking it to growing frustration and Labour's standing in Scottish polls.
Politico EU: https://www.politico.eu/article/scottish-labour-leader-anas-sarwar-to-call-for-keir-starmer-to-quit/ - Published ~10 minutes ago. Confirms Sarwar's intention to call for Starmer's resignation, emphasizing the significance of him being the most senior Labour politician to break ranks.
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/feb/09/starmer-mandelson-epstein-labour-mcsweeney-conservatives-latest-news-updates - Published ~5 hours ago. Reports Sarwar's planned announcement at a press conference in Glasgow and mentions the Conservatives urging Labour MPs to replace Starmer.
The Herald: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25838402.anas-sarwar-call-keir-starmer-stand-prime-minister/ - Published ~48 minutes ago. States that Sarwar is expected to call for Starmer to stand down as Prime Minister, citing the Peter Mandelson appointment as a key issue.
HuffPost UK: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/hammer-blow-for-keir-starmer-as-scottish-labour-leader-anas-sarwar-to-call-on-him-to-quituk6989de1de4b0959e2d9386c2?origin=home-politics-grid-unit - Published ~21 minutes ago. Describes Sarwar's planned announcement as a "hammer blow" and details the resignation of Morgan McSweeney.
The Gazette: https://www.the-gazette.co.uk/news/25838573.anas-sarwar-call-keir-starmer-resign-glasgow/ - Published ~12 minutes ago. Reports Sarwar is set to call for Starmer's resignation as Prime Minister and notes Starmer's admission regarding awareness of Mandelson's links to Epstein.
The Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/starmer-resignation-latest-news-anas-sarwar-mandelson-epstein-b2916704.html - Published ~28 minutes ago. This source was marked as low priority and its content was not fully extracted in the provided data.
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