Anas Sarwar made his move in Glasgow on Monday, calling on the prime minister to resign ahead of May’s Scottish election. The Scottish Labour leader said the situation in Downing Street was “not good enough”, adding that the decision to speak out was painful but his “first loyalty” was to Scotland. The Guardian and the Independent reported the intervention in full. (theguardian.com)

Within minutes, senior Labour figures flooded social media with messages backing Sir Keir. Later, Starmer faced a packed Parliamentary Labour Party meeting and told MPs and peers he was “not prepared to walk away”, insisting “I have won every fight I’ve ever been in.” Those in the room described multiple standing ovations as ministers rallied publicly behind him, according to the Guardian’s live coverage. (theguardian.com)

Voices from the North set the tone for a split mood. Hull East MP Karl Turner posted that the PM was “at his best tonight… reflective, apologetic, but strong,” saying talk of any leadership challenge had been “put to bed.” Yet Manchester’s Graham Stringer told BBC Radio 4 he did not think Starmer could “survive this amount of chaos.” Both remarks were carried by the Guardian’s political live blog. (theguardian.com)

As Labour tried to steady itself, Health Secretary Wes Streeting published WhatsApp exchanges with Peter Mandelson in a bid to shut down rumours about their relationship. In messages shared with Sky News, he said he had “nothing to hide”, fretted he was “toast” at the next election and slammed No 10 for having “no growth strategy”. Streeting also wrote in the Guardian that he was not a close friend of Mandelson. (news.sky.com)

Two senior departures deepened the pressure. Chief of staff Morgan McSweeney quit on Sunday taking “full responsibility” for advising the Mandelson appointment, and on Monday communications chief Tim Allan also resigned after five months in post. Downing Street named McSweeney’s deputies, Vidhya Alakeson and Jill Cuthbertson, as joint acting chiefs of staff, ITV and the Guardian reported; the Financial Times detailed Allan’s exit. (theguardian.com)

Whitehall turbulence may not be over. The Guardian reported that cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald is negotiating his departure, which would make him the third big exit in two days; the Times suggested the PM was preparing to remove him over frustrations with vetting and delivery. No 10 has not confirmed a timetable. (theguardian.com)

At the root of the storm is the Mandelson saga. Appointed as UK ambassador to Washington, he was sacked on 11 September 2025 after emails showed he defended Epstein following the 2008 conviction; James Roscoe took over as interim ambassador. That sequence was set out by the Guardian and Euronews. (theguardian.com)

Opponents scented blood. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Starmer was “in office but not in power”, urging him to go, while Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper argued the “buck stops” with the PM and pressed for focus on the NHS and the cost of living. Those comments were reported by PA/Yahoo and the Guardian. (malaysia.news.yahoo.com)

Reform UK’s Nigel Farage told a Birmingham rally it would be “virtually impossible” for Labour to fight Holyrood if Starmer stays, predicting the prime minister would resign “before very long”. The Independent carried his remarks. (independent.co.uk)

So what does this mean north of the border and north of the Trent? In Scotland, Sarwar has three months to convince voters Labour can run Holyrood better than the SNP. In the North, councillors and business groups want steadiness on spending and delivery while Westminster fights itself. A Greater Manchester by‑election in Gorton and Denton later this month adds a local test of mood, as noted by the Guardian. (theguardian.com)

For now, Starmer has cabinet unity on paper and applause in the PLP – but with senior staff turnover, a possible shake‑up at the top of the civil service and the Scottish campaign clock ticking, the question for Northern voters is simple: can Labour get back to delivery before May? The next 10 weeks will tell. (theguardian.com)