Overview
- Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called media briefings urging Keir Starmer to quit “idiotic” and told colleagues to focus on frontline campaigning and delivery.
- Some Scottish Labour MPs briefed The Times and The Daily Telegraph that replacing Starmer, with Wes Streeting floated, would improve the party’s prospects.
- Allies of the Prime Minister hit back, branding the briefers “idiots” and “hypocrites” and warning it is ill‑advised to move against Starmer.
- Streeting said he has no leadership ambitions and is concentrating on his Health Secretary role, while GB News reported Shabana Mahmood as another name discussed.
- Recent polling reported a roughly 20‑point SNP lead and warnings that Reform UK could push Labour into third place, with about 122 days until the Holyrood election.