Starmer Vows to Stay in Office Amid Leadership Pressure
February 10, 2026 — UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declared he will not step down, telling his MPs he is “not prepared to walk away from my mandate,” hours after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called on him to resign.
In a private meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) lasting over an hour, Starmer addressed concerns over his leadership, emphasizing his commitment to the country and his party.
“Every fight I’ve been in, I have won,” he said, receiving several rounds of applause from MPs. The session was so crowded that two ministers were reportedly turned away.
Starmer’s address came amid growing political turbulence following the resignation of his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who took “full responsibility” for advising Starmer to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US. McSweeney’s resignation was followed by the exit of Starmer’s director of communications, Tim Allan.
Despite the turmoil, Starmer received backing from senior Labour figures. Chancellor Rachel Reeves described his address as “excellent” and praised him as “a man of great integrity” with the mandate to lead the country.
Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell noted strong support, saying there were more standing ovations than at any recent PLP meetings.
Labour MPs, including Justin Madders, said Starmer acknowledged past mistakes but projected a message of defiance. “I don’t think he believes he’s at the end of the road… There was a lot of support for him,” Madders told the BBC.
Several analysts and ministers believe calls for Starmer’s resignation, particularly Sarwar’s intervention, may have backfired. Ministers said the prime minister emerged from the day in a stronger position, although his political future remains uncertain with upcoming by-elections and local elections in February and May.
In his remarks, Starmer referred to the ongoing battle against political opponents as “the fight of our lives” and stressed his commitment to serve the country.
“As long as I have breath in my body, I’ll be in that fight,” he said, highlighting his dedication to those who rely on the government, including his own family members and constituents.
Meanwhile, members of the cabinet and Labour leadership, including Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Angela Rayner, expressed full support for the prime minister.
Nandy stated, “We are all fully behind the prime minister,” while Rayner’s public messages of backing helped stabilize Starmer’s position during a volatile day.
Starmer’s leadership continues to face scrutiny from both within and outside his party. Opposition leaders, including Conservative Kemi Badenoch, Reform UK’s Nigel Farage, and the SNP’s Stephen Flynn, have called on him to resign, citing loss of control and questionable appointments.
Despite these pressures, reports from inside the PLP meeting suggest that Starmer’s message resonated with MPs, offering a temporary reprieve amid the political storm.
Analysts caution, however, that with multiple elections on the horizon, the prime minister’s authority and future remain closely watched.
