Starmer “not on his knees” as Unite weighs break

Keir Starmer is facing one of the most politically fraught weeks of his premiership, after a fresh attempt to force him from office was followed by a show of unity from cabinet ministers and a warning sign from Labour’s union base.

Karl Turner, the Labour MP for Hull East, said the prime minister is “not on his knees” and is instead “strong and determined and committed to delivering for the British public”, describing Starmer’s address to the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) as “angry”, “reflective” and “apologetic”.

Turner said the prime minister’s anger was directed at himself, after “taking the advice and appointing Mandelson”, and claimed Starmer had sought to reassure MPs that he would not walk away from the mandate he won at the last general election.

The comments come amid continued fallout from the Peter Mandelson scandal, which has dominated Westminster and reignited questions about decision-making at the top of government. Sky News reported that the Metropolitan Police has received a “number of reports relating to alleged misconduct in a public office” which are being assessed.

“A lot of nonsense”: Labour MP hits out at Sarwar’s resignation call

Turner also took aim at Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who publicly demanded that Starmer step down as prime minister. The MP dismissed Sarwar’s intervention as “a lot of nonsense”, arguing he should have remained loyal and suggesting the Scottish leader was attempting to distance himself from Downing Street for electoral reasons.

In Turner’s account, Starmer also acknowledged a wider complaint among Labour backbenchers that they have “not felt very included”, and pledged to improve the relationship between No 10 and the PLP.

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Unite could bring forward decision on disaffiliation

The pressure on Labour is not limited to Westminster. Sky News reported that Unite, one of the UK’s largest trade unions, has accelerated its plans to consult members on whether to disaffiliate from the Labour Party, potentially bringing the decision forward from 2027 to the union’s annual conference this year.

Deputy political editor Sam Coates said the consultation is being driven by concerns that Labour is not delivering for “workers and industries”, and that it is “not really about Keir Starmer” personally – despite Unite’s disappointment with the prime minister and deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, after a “big fight” between the union and Labour’s leadership.

A move by Unite to cut formal ties would be a significant moment for the party, given the union’s historic role in Labour’s ecosystem, both organisationally and financially. It would also underscore the sense of volatility around Labour’s standing ahead of major elections in May.

What happens if a Labour leader resigns?

As the leadership speculation continues, attention has also turned to what would happen if Starmer did resign. Sky News’ reporting on Labour’s rulebook suggests that, in that scenario, the cabinet and Labour’s National Executive Committee would appoint an interim leader to serve until the party elects a permanent replacement – a process that could take around eight weeks.

Coates said this could mean a short-lived “interim” prime minister followed by another new premier after the party completes its internal contest, a sequence that could create political and economic turbulence at a sensitive time.

A party trying to reset – while the story keeps moving

For Starmer, the immediate task is to stabilise his government, reassure MPs who fear electoral damage, and demonstrate that the administration can return to policy delivery rather than internal drama. Turner’s remarks, and the public backing from senior ministers reported by Sky News, indicate that Labour’s leadership is attempting to draw a line under the latest flare-up.

But the wider story is now bigger than one difficult meeting. With union frustration rising, questions circulating about party management, and constitutional mechanics being discussed in public, Labour is entering a period where every new development risks compounding the last.

The prime minister may have survived a moment of acute danger. The challenge now is convincing voters – and key parts of Labour’s own coalition – that the government can regain control of the narrative, and keep it.