𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Most Britons say Keir Starmer should resign as Prime Minister and Labour leader, as the fallout from the Peter Mandelson scandal continues to threaten his position. A new poll from More in Common revealed the true level of public fury towards Sir Keir for the first time, with just one in four voters now saying he should remain in office.

Just 20% of voters said they believe that the Prime Minister’s apology to victims of Jeffrey Epstein was sufficient. Luke Tryl, the polling firm’s UK Director, warned that the results are proof that the Mandelson affair has “shaken the foundations of trust in this government.” He added: “Already unhappy, much of the public is now furious with the Prime Minister and wants to see him take responsibility for the appointment. Just 21 per cent think his apology last week went far enough, and Britons are five times more likely to say Starmer bears ultimate responsibility than to blame Morgan McSweeney.”

“But for the public, this goes beyond one Prime Minister or one government. The Mandelson saga reinforces many people’s worst instincts about politics and the British system: a sense that the country is rigged, that elites operate above the law, and that voting makes little difference.”

The damning polling came as Labour’s pre-emptive leadership election to replace Keir Starmer continued at pace.

Wes Streeting denied he had been threatened with the sack, following accusations he had been behind a failed coup to bring down the Prime Minister on Monday.

The Health Secretary insisted he remains fully behind Keir Starmer, amid briefings from fellow ministers that he had “absolutely f***ing bottled it”.

Doorstepped by broadcasters after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, the ambitious frontbencher said: “The Prime Minister has my full support. He is leading our country through an enormous set of challenges, people have got to recognise the integrity with which he does that, and the support that he has to confront the change we were urged to deliver at the next general election.”

“You saw that last night, there’s a lot of goodwill behind him. There’s an enormous challenge, and we’ve got to meet that challenge as a team.”

Asked if he’s on manoeuvres, Mr Streeting insisted his sole focus is cutting NHS waiting lists.

The top Labour minister was also given a stern warning by the Metropolitan Police after self-publishing texts between him and Peter Mandelson on Monday evening, in an attempt to prove they did not enjoy an especially close relationship.

The messages revealed that the pair had only exchanged texts half a dozen times, though these did include embarrassing criticism of Rachel Reeves and Labour’s election strategy.

The Metropolitan Police issued a statement appearing to warn that he had risked compromising their investigation into Peter Mandelson.

A spokesman said: “An investigation into alleged misconduct in public office is under way and it is vital due process is followed, so that our criminal investigation and any potential prosecution is not compromised.”

The Cabinet Office’s Propriety and Ethics team also contacted fellow ministers, telling them not to publish anything within the scope of the documents set to be released as a result of last week’s Tory motion in parliament.

Mr Streeting was criticised by fellow Cabinet Minister Ed Miliband, who said he “does not agree” with his colleague’s text message attacks on Rachel Reeves’s growth policy.

The Energy Secretary hit back: “I think that actually Rachel has done a very good job as Chancellor, I don’t agree with it – I haven’t seen the detail of the messages – but I think we’ve seen the stability that’s essential… that’s because of the decisions Rachel made too.”

Mr Miliband, who is widely expected to run for Labour leader should Sir Keir resign, ruled out a bid for the top job, arguing that Sir Keir “needs to be allowed to get on”. 

In a moment of rare relief for the PM, Andy Burnham finally issued a statement of support after over a day of notable silence.

Speaking in Westminster, the Manchester mayor said that the Prime Minister “has my support”.

But he warned that radical change must now come about in both the government’s cost-of-living policies and reforms to how the government works.

Mr Burnham called for “root and branch political reform in Whitehall”, and widespread changes to Government, the MP whipping system and the House of Lords.

The Manchester Metro Mayor said: “I would say our national political system is too short-term, too focused on point scoring and concentrates power in too few hands.

“If we are to do the heavy lifting of repairing Britain’s essentials, we will need this new political culture.

He said Labour’s sole focus in the short term must now be winning the Gorton by-election and defeating Reform. Mr Burnham added: “I will say to you all today [it] is winnable for Labour.”