Keir Starmer’s trustworthy give HUGE smiles after No10 assembly as message despatched
Keir Starmer has issued a thank you message to his Cabinet colleagues after they rallied round to support him yesterday – as he faced a perilous moment in his premiership
Deputy PM David Lammy put his thumb up as he walked into No10 for the weekly Cabinet meeting(Image: AP)
Keir Starmer has told his Cabinet that “the whole of the Labour Party” wants Anas Sarwar to become first minister – a day after the Scottish Labour leader called for the Prime Minister to quit.
Speaking during a Cabinet meeting this morning, the Prime Minister issued a thank you message to his Cabinet colleagues after they rallied round to support him yesterday. He told his most senior ministers they were “strong and united” after they rescued him from a perilous leadership challenge.
He said the government would continue its relentless focus on the priorities of the British people, including tackling the cost of living.
And Mr Starmer said the “whole of the Labour Party” wants Mr Sarwar to become First Minister and will “fight for a Labour government in Scotland“.
READ MORE: Keir Starmer faced moment of doom – then MPs had a major realisation
It comes after the Scottish Labour leader on Monday broke ranks to call for him to stand down. He became the most senior figure yet to demand his resignation as the Peter Mandelson scandal threatened to engulf the Government.
But the PM was thrown a lifeline by his top team after hours of ominous silence on Monday, with the whole Cabinet lining up to back him shortly after Mr Sarwar’s intervention.
Today, the Prime Minister thanked Political Cabinet for their support. He highlighted the ways ministers are delivering on their mandate to change the country, including investing in local communities through Pride in Place and restoring economic stability, which has led to six interest rate cuts and lower mortgage costs for families.
Before and after the Cabinet meeting, ministers were seen with beaming smiles entering and leaving No10.
Wes Streeting – seen as a leadership contender – was among those smiling as he approached Downing Street with Technology Secretary Liz Kendall.
David Lammy, the deputy PM and Justice Secretary, looked most cheerful, with a big grin and a thumbs up to the cameras. Labour chair Anna Turley and Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell both waved at the camera.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and DWP Secretary Pat MacFadden were all photographed smiling too.
Earlier, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband had admitted Mr Starmer faced a “moment of peril” due to serious mistakes under his leadership. The Cabinet minister said the Prime Minister last night admitted to MPs that mistakes – from the appointment of Peter Mandelson to winter fuel payment cuts – had not been consistent with Labour values and had “drowned out” the good work the Government is doing
Mr Miliband said he makes “no bones” about the seriousness of yesterday’s events, which left the PM fighting to save his premiership. But the former Labour leader suggested MPs changed their mind after looking over the cliff and realising a “chaotic” change of leader as happened under the Tories is not what the country needs.
Speaking about Labour’s performance in power this morning, Mr Miliband said: “Keir put it well last night which is that I recognise it’s not just the Peter Mandelson appointment.
“We’ve made mistakes in policy which have drowned out the many good things we’re doing as a government, like winter fuel payment, for example, wasn’t consistent with our values as a government. We need to change.”
He continued: “Yesterday was a moment of peril for the Prime Minister. I make no bones about that but as a collective body – the Cabinet, the Labour Party – looked at the alternatives of going down this road of a chaotic leadership election, try and depose the Prime Minister and they said: ‘No, that’s not for us.’
“What’s for us is focusing on the country, supporting Keir, recognising that serious mistakes have been made but recognising that he’s out leader and he deserves the time and space to renew the Government, reset the government and focus on the country.”
