Senior Jewish Labour parliamentarians rally behind Starmer amid leadership crisis
Richard Hermer, Lord Katz and Sarah Sackman among those publicly backing PM
Labour’s most senior Jewish parliamentarians have rallied behind Keir Starmer as he fights to remain in No 10, following Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s call for his resignation.
Attorney General Richard Hermer KC, reflecting on his three-decade friendship with the Prime Minister, said: “He has been underestimated before, and every time he has fought back and won – and that’s what he is going to do now.”
Lord Katz, a government whip in the Lords, also voiced support for Starmer, commenting: “We’re in an existential fight with Reform, who see Britain’s multicultural, tolerant culture as a weakness. Keir stands four-square for our values.”
Justice Minister and Finchley and Golders Green MP Sarah Sackman added: “Our Prime Minister has my full support – rebuilding Britain and keeping this country fair, tolerant and open. People in Finchley and Golders Green and across the UK voted for stability and strong leadership, and it is up to us to deliver it.”
Tech Minister Josh Simons highlighted Starmer’s mandate, stating: “The chance to govern this country is a rare and privileged thing. Keir Starmer won a mandate from the British people to do that. Now, we must work our backsides off together to drive the change the country is crying out for.”
Treasury Minister Dan Tomlinson, representing Chipping Barnet, where he has strong community backing, said: “We need to get on with the job, under Keir’s leadership, of continuing to change the country for the better.”
David Pinto-Duschinsky, the Hendon MP said:”“I’ve been in Gorton and Denton today and the message from the doorstep could not be clearer. Only Labour, united under Keir Starmer’s leadership, can deliver the change people want and tackle the cost of living crisis. He has my full support.”
Downing Street asserted that Sir Keir has a “clear five-year mandate” from voters, as senior ministers closed ranks behind him and Labour’s chief whip called for an end to party “infighting.”
The Prime Minister’s position is under threat following his decision to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US, despite Mandelson’s friendship with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Sarwar criticised “failures in the heart of Downing Street,” warning that they were damaging Labour’s prospects in Scotland.
He is the most senior Labour figure to call for Starmer’s resignation, with Scottish Labour facing a tough challenge in May’s Holyrood elections, where polls suggest the party could finish third behind the SNP and Reform.
Hermer, the UK’s most senior lawyer and a member of Alyth Synagogue, urged full support for Starmer: “He is one of four people in UK history to win a general election for our Party, and has a five-year mandate for change from our historic victory in 2024.
“Nobody said delivering change would be easy, but we are beginning to turn this country around. NHS waiting lists are falling. Interest rates are falling. The economy is primed for growth. Rights and protections for working people are being uplifted.
“This is because of the decisions we’ve made since returning to power after 14 years in opposition. We cannot turn on ourselves before people feel the benefits of those decisions. The public would never forgive us for the chaos it would bring.”
Katz echoed these sentiments, warning: “Farage wants nothing more than for Labour to spend time infighting rather than taking the fight to him. We can’t let this happen.”
Former Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl also added her back for Starmer.
She told Jewish News:”“First of all, my thoughts are with the victims of Epstein. Justice must be done.
“Amid the many challenges our country faces, Keir’s focus on tackling the scourge of antisemitism has shown the courage and commitment needed to take on difficult issues. He has the right values at heart and now deserves the chance to lead with them and demonstrate what he can achieve.”
As Sarwar spoke, Cabinet ministers rushed out statements in support of Starmer. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said Sarwar was “wrong,” while chief whip Jonathan Reynolds insisted: “Resorting to infighting now does not serve the country.”
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy was first among the Cabinet to post his support on social media: “We should let nothing distract us from our mission to change Britain and we support the Prime Minister in doing that.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “With Keir as our Prime Minister, we are turning the country around.” Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper added: “At this crucial time for the world, we need his leadership not just at home but on the global stage.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting told Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast “no” when asked if Sir Keir should resign, urging Labour MPs to give the Prime Minister a chance.
Starmer will face Labour MPs later on Monday amid anger over Mandelson’s appointment, despite knowing the peer’s ties to Epstein continued after his conviction for child sex offences.
Labour’s 37 MPs in Scotland now face the decision of whether to back Sarwar or remain loyal to Starmer.
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander expressed his support for Starmer, while Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said the Prime Minister deserved backing from backbenchers.
McFadden told the Press Association: “I think he’ll acknowledge what’s gone wrong. He’ll take responsibility for the decision, but he’ll say the Government still has a lot of important work to do, and he wants to lead that work. I believe he deserves the support of the parliamentary party in doing that.”
Addressing staff at Downing Street on Monday, Starmer urged his team to “go forward from here” and prove that politics can be a “force for good.” Speaking about Mandelson, Starmer said: “The thing that makes me most angry is the undermining of the belief that politics can be a force for good and can change lives.”
Downing Street communications chief Tim Allan announced his resignation to allow for a “new No 10 team to be built.” Allan, a “New Labour” veteran like Mandelson, joined the media operation in September.
Before Sarwar’s intervention, calls for Starmer to step down had come mainly from MPs on the party’s left.
The pressure on Starmer’s premiership is unlikely to ease as the Government prepares to release tens of thousands of emails, messages, and documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment.
The Prime Minister believes the files will prove Mandelson lied about the extent of his ties to Epstein during vetting.
Starmer and former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, who resigned on Sunday, have blamed the security services for failing to disprove Mandelson’s claims, which were undermined by disclosures in the so-called Epstein files.
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