Pressure Mounts on Starmer to Quit Downing Street
Sir Keir Starmer is facing escalating demands to step down as Prime Minister, with senior figures within his own Labour Party urging his resignation. This crisis, triggered by the ongoing Peter Mandelson scandal, threatens to make Sir Keir the shortest-serving Labour prime minister in history.
Premiership in Peril After Key Aides Depart
The Prime Minister's position has been severely weakened by the abrupt exits of two crucial aides within a 24-hour period. His chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, and communications chief, Tim Allan, have both left their roles, dealing a significant blow to Sir Keir's leadership team.
If Sir Keir himself departs Number 10 in the near future, it would represent a dramatic downfall for a leader who secured a landslide general election victory in July 2024. He has currently served 1 year and 219 days as Prime Minister.
Historical Context: Labour's Shortest-Serving PM?
Should Sir Keir resign soon, he would become Labour's shortest-serving premier by a considerable margin. The current record is held by Gordon Brown, who served 2 years and 318 days in Downing Street after succeeding Sir Tony Blair in 2007.
Sir Tony Blair remains the longest-serving Labour Prime Minister, with a tenure of 10 years and 56 days, during which he won three general elections. Other notable Labour PMs include James Callaghan, who served 3 years and 29 days in the late 1970s, and Clement Attlee, who spent 6 years and 92 days in Number 10 immediately after the Second World War.
Harold Wilson and Ramsay MacDonald both served over six years as Prime Minister, though their tenures were spread across multiple terms. Wilson served a total of 7 years and 279 days, while MacDonald's time in office totaled just over nine months across two separate periods.
Mandelson Scandal Fuels Leadership Crisis
The current crisis stems from fresh revelations about Peter Mandelson's relationship with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Sir Keir has publicly apologised for believing Mandelson's lies about his links to Epstein and for appointing him as US ambassador in February 2025.
Despite this apology, senior Labour figures continue to question the Prime Minister's judgement and political future. In a devastating blow on Monday, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar explicitly called for Sir Keir to quit, stating at a press conference that 'the distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change.'
Cabinet Rallies Amid Mounting Pressure
Following Mr Sarwar's comments, Sir Keir's Cabinet attempted to show unity, with senior ministers posting supportive messages on social media on Monday afternoon. However, this display of solidarity has done little to quell the growing calls for the Prime Minister's resignation from within his own party.
The combination of the Mandelson scandal, the departure of key aides, and public criticism from senior Labour figures has created the most severe crisis of Sir Keir's premiership. The coming days will determine whether he can survive this political storm or if he will indeed become Labour's shortest-serving Prime Minister.
