"Speaking later, the prime minister told reporters: "I've got a huge respect for Anas Sarwar. Obviously, he made his views known yesterday. "But I want to be really clear that I'm 100% supportive of Anas Sarwar to be the first minister in Scotland, he'd be an incredible first minister and I support him 100% without reservation.""
"He said Labour had to change but that the party had "pulled together". Starmer said he was "absolutely crystal clear" that it needed to fight for the people who do not get "the respect, the dignity, the chance they deserve in life". He added the party "needs to change" and be out there making that argument rather than "talking internally to ourselves". Asked whether he would lead Labour into the next election, Starmer replied: "Yes, I will", adding that he had a five-year mandate."
Anas Sarwar urged the prime minister to quit, saying the situation in Downing Street was "not good enough" as Scottish Labour seeks to reverse poor polling ahead of the Holyrood election. Keir Starmer expressed huge respect and offered 100% backing, calling Sarwar an "incredible" prospective first minister. Several Scottish Labour MSPs and backbench MPs sided with Sarwar while senior Labour figures publicly backed the prime minister. At a cabinet meeting Starmer said the whole party wants Sarwar to become first minister and will fight for a Labour government in Scotland. Starmer said Labour needs to change, fight for those lacking respect, and he will lead into the next election with a five-year mandate. Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said both were willing to work together after private conversations.
Read at www.bbc.com
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