Just 48 hours after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar wanted to see Keir Starmer go, the British public appear to be in the same frame of mind, a new poll has shown
The vast majority of British people think Keir Starmer should “resign now,” a new poll has shown. Despite his job seemingly on (or off) the line after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar told him to resign on Monday over the Mandelson/Epstein scandal, just 24 hours later the PM appeared to be going nowhere.
In an apparent defiant mood, a Government spokesman confirmed that he told the Cabinet they were “strong and united”. A spokesman said, as part of the daily political Cabinet readout: “The Prime Minister thanked Political Cabinet for their support. He said they were strong and united.”
However, it seems to have gone down like a wet lettuce (no pun intended) with the British public after a new poll showed that he has now lost the back of most Brits.
Produced by Politico with Public First, the poll shows that 52% want him to go, while 19% say that his advisors should resign but that he should stay.
Around 15% said that nobody should go, while 14% have no idea what to think – which is plausible given the constant chaos.
Seb Wride, head of polling for Public First said: “A majority of all voters – regardless of the party they’re planning to vote for – want some resignations over this, but only Labour voters say advisors should go rather than Starmer himself.
“The events of the weekend may be enough to satisfy Labour activists and most of their voters, but it’ll be hard to convince those already opposed to Labour that they’re done enough to move on.”
To make the situation even more confusing, despite trying to oust him, Starmer yesterday appeared to back the bloke who wanted him gone.
According to a Government spokesman, he fully threw his weight behind Anas Sarwar. They said: “The Prime Minister said that the whole of the Labour Party wants Anas Sarwar to become First Minister and will fight for a Labour government in Scotland.”
It all comes just 24 hours after another Labour heavyweight ruled himself out of the running for any leadership contest.
Ed Miliband said it was “absolute, absolute baloney” that he was making a leadership pitch, and then said he was only interested” in supporting Keir Starmer,” during a chat with Sophy Ridge on Mornings with Frost and Ridge on Sky News.
He explained: “Of course I’m not. Don’t be. Be ridiculous. You know, I did the job before. I’ve said before, I think to you that it inoculated me against this. I’m interested in supporting Keir. That’s the duty we all have.”
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