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Starmer secures backing, rebukes Sarwar

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer won backing from his cabinet in Downing Street on Tuesday, fending off calls from Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar over Peter Mandelson's links to Jeffrey Epstein.

Financial Times
Starmer too ‘weak’ to sack Streeting, PM’s allies admit

Health secretary forced to put ambitions on hold as uneasy truce settles over Labour ahead of electoral tests

Starmer too ‘weak’ to sack Streeting, PM’s allies admit
Reposts 0 59m
The Guardian
Who could fill key No 10 vacancies – and win the battle for Starmer’s ear?

Everyone around PM agrees ‘chaos’ at No 10 has to be sorted, but there are competing factions trying to gain upper hand With three vacancies opening up at the very top of Keir Starmer’s operation, there is already a battle over who will win the war for his ear - and the direction of the government. The departure of Starmer’s most important political advisers - his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney , who was focused on the fight against Reform in Labour’s working-class heartlands; and Tim Allan , the director of communication, considered a Blairite - has immediately raised hopes on Labour’s soft left of a shift in their favour. Continue reading. . .

Who could fill key No 10 vacancies – and win the battle for Starmer’s ear?
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The Guardian
Starmer says he ‘will never walk away’ as Burnham joins Labour figures backing PM – as it happened

This blog is now closed, you can read more on this story here Kemi Badenoch has said that Keir Starmer just received a “stay of execution” yesterday. Speaking to reporters on a visit this morning, she said: [Starmer] is in a very dangerous place. The Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the quiet bit out loud. Labour MPs and the Labour party have lost confidence in their leader, but the MPs are too scared of losing their jobs, so they’re not going to call an election, and they’ve given him a stay of execution. The sad thing is that the country is suffering from not being governed at all. Continue reading. . .

Starmer says he ‘will never walk away’ as Burnham joins Labour figures backing PM – as it happened
Reposts 17 2h
The Independent
King Charles III seeks 'moral high ground' with pledge to help police as Epstein scandal deepens

In an earlier era, Britain’s royal family might have tried to bury the scandal surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein

King Charles III seeks 'moral high ground' with pledge to help police as Epstein scandal deepens
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ABC
Starmer gana tiempo con el respaldo de su gabinete tras la mayor crisis interna de su mandato

Keir Starmer llegó al martes con la autoridad erosionada por la crisis más grave desde su llegada a Downing Street y al mismo tiempo con una imagen de control que, sin disipar las dudas de fondo, ha permitido al Partido Laborista ganar tiempo. Tras unas jornadas previas marcadas una investigación policial en curso por el caso Mandelson y el desafío abierto desde el liderazgo laborista escocés, que pedía su dimisión, el primer ministro presidió la reunión semanal del gabinete arropado por sus ministros, en un ejercicio de disciplina colectiva que evitó el colapso inmediato de su liderazgo y trasladó el foco a un horizonte decisivo de pruebas electorales. El detonante de la crisis sigue siendo el nombramiento de Peter Mandelson como embajador del Reino Unido en Estados Unidos, una designación realizada en diciembre de 2024 que terminó nueve meses después con su destitución, cuando se hicieron públicos sus vínculos con Jeffrey Epstein. La publicación posterior de nuevos archivos por parte del Departamento de Justicia de Estados Unidos añadió una dimensión

Starmer gana tiempo con el respaldo de su gabinete tras la mayor crisis interna de su mandato
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The Guardian
Is Starmer out of the woods after Labour showdown? - The Latest

After a day of turmoil where the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, called for Keir Starmer to resign, Labour MPs and cabinet members seem to be rallying around the prime minister. Can Starmer bounce back from this latest blow to his leadership? And what might the road to recovery look like for Labour? Lucy Hough speaks to columnist Aditya Chakrabortty Continue reading. . .

Is Starmer out of the woods after Labour showdown? - The Latest
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The Guardian
Is Starmer out of the woods? – The Latest

After a day of turmoil where the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, called for Keir Starmer to resign, Labour MPs and cabinet members seem to be rallying around the prime minister. Can Starmer bounce back from this latest blow to his leadership? And what might the road to recovery look like for Labour? Lucy Hough speaks to columnist Aditya Chakrabortty - watch on YouTube Continue reading. . .

Is Starmer out of the woods? – The Latest
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Reposted by Mary Jane Curry

3%
the-independent.com
BREAKING | Starmer’s paedophile-linked peer and former comms chief quits Labour Party

trib.al/B3DT9BW
Starmer’s paedophile-linked peer and former comms chief quits Labour Party
Matthew Doyle has apologised for his past association with a paedophile councillor Sean Morton
trib.al
February 10, 2026 at 4:44 PM

by Robert Garner

33%
Handelsblatt
Britain: backing for Prime Minister Keir Starmer wanes

Because he made an Epstein associate ambassador to the United States, the Labour leader is increasingly in trouble politically. The government crisis is hitting the British financial market.

Britain: backing for Prime Minister Keir Starmer wanes
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Handelsblatt
Britain: Politically alive but not saved: Prime Minister Keir Starmer must continue to fear for his job

Because he appointed an Epstein associate as ambassador to the United States, the Labour leader is coming under mounting political pressure. The government crisis is reverberating in the British financial market.

Britain: Politically alive but not saved: Prime Minister Keir Starmer must continue to fear for his job
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Le Figaro
The Epstein affair shock waves shake the British crown once again

DECRYPTION - Charles III has stepped out of his reserve to express his 'deep concern' about the actions of his younger brother Andrew, saying he is prepared to cooperate with police on a new investigation.

The Epstein affair shock waves shake the British crown once again
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Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Affäre um Epstein-Akten: Der Moment, als Labour in den Abgrund blickte

Erst Rücktritte im Team, dann Rücktrittsforderungen gegen Starmer: Das Schicksal des Premiers schien besiegelt. Wie ihm die Wende gelang - und was ihm noch drohen könnte.

Affäre um Epstein-Akten: Der Moment, als Labour in den Abgrund blickte
Reposts 0 4h

by Kenneth A. Armstrong

75%
profkaarmstrong.bsky.social
How should Starmer respond to Sarwar?
By getting to grips with polycentric politics.

New on Substack.

open.substack.com/pub/kaarmstr...
Taking Sarwar Seriously – Why Starmer’s Reset Must Confront Polycentric Politics
After days of political turmoil, Sir Keir Starmer left a meeting of his parliamentary Labour party secure in his job as UK Prime Minister, at least for the moment.
open.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:05 PM

by Nick Hubble

18%
thehubble101.bsky.social
At least Sarwar will be able to say after Starmer does go that he was right to call for it (not that it will do him much good). I think Eluned Morgan's less than enthusiastic endorsement of Starmer reflects the fact that she can't afford to alienate any Labour factions.
February 10, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Affair over Epstein Files: The Moment Starmer Looked into the Abyss

First resignations in his team, then calls for Starmer to resign: the prime minister's fate seemed sealed. How he managed the turning point, and what could still threaten him.

Affair over Epstein Files: The Moment Starmer Looked into the Abyss
Reposts 0 4h
Kathimerini
Starmer: I will never give up my post

The British prime minister is under mounting pressure over Peter Mandelson's appointment as Britain's ambassador to Washington and his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein

Starmer: I will never give up my post
Reposts 0 4h
Der Standard
Starmer to focus again on governing after Epstein turmoil

Keir Starmer saved himself once again with a fiery speech before his party's MPs. How long that will be good for the British prime minister remains unclear.

Starmer to focus again on governing after Epstein turmoil
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The Guardian
Andy Burnham backs Starmer but urges him to be bolder and more inclusive

Greater Manchester mayor calls for unity while setting out what he thinks the government’s platform should be Andy Burnham has publicly backed Keir Starmer while calling for him to show more boldness and be more willing to accept contributions from others within Labour. After a day of turmoil on Monday when the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, called for Starmer to resign, the Greater Manchester mayor used a speech and Q&A in Westminster to call for unity while promoting his views on what the government’s platform should look like. Continue reading. . .

Andy Burnham backs Starmer but urges him to be bolder and more inclusive
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The Guardian
Sarwar allies seeking to justify Starmer attack say he could still face leadership challenge

Labour MSPs fear intervention was mistimed but Scottish party sources argue the PM’s days seem numbered Scottish Labour sources have sought to justify’s Anas Sarwar’s risky decision to call on Keir Starmer to resign by arguing a challenge to his leadership could still materialise. Sarwar’s public denunciation of Starmer on Monday afternoon sent shock waves through the government but also alarmed Labour politicians in the Scottish parliament, who fear the Scottish Labour leader’s intervention was mistimed. Continue reading. . .

Sarwar allies seeking to justify Starmer attack say he could still face leadership challenge
Reposts 1 5h
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