Labour MPs looked over the precipice, once Anas Sarwar made his statement, and they didn't like what they saw. And they thought the right thing to do was to unite behind Keir, to focus on the country, because we didn't want to go down the road of the Tories when they were in power chaotic, disorderly leadership contest.
The resignation of Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff and the man credited with orchestrating his path to Downing Street, has left the prime minister isolated, rudderless and at the mercy of events he is in no position to control. Mr McSweeney fell on his sword after taking responsibility for backing the appointment of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador, despite what was known about the peer's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
Speaking to the Guardian and others, Starmer's most senior political aides warned that he would fight any reckless attempt to challenge him after the budget or May elections, while voicing fears that Wes Streeting, the health secretary, was among those manoeuvring to replace him. Instead of putting to bed any questions about his future, the briefing has sparked fresh questions about Starmer's future and thrown the spotlight on Streeting as a potential successor.
