Scottish Labor leader Anas Sarwar has called on Sir Keir Starmer to resign, according to people familiar with the matter, deepening the crisis over his tenure as prime minister.
Sarwar, seen as a Starmer ally, is the most senior Labor figure to date to call for the departure of the UK prime minister.
The Labor Party is expected to perform poorly in the elections to be held in Scotland, Wales, London and parts of England in May. The party once hoped to win the Scottish elections, but due to Starmer’s unpopularity the party faced defeat.
Earlier on Monday, Downing Street communications director Tim Allen stepped down amid the scandal over the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
Former No 10 chief of staff Morgan McSweeney also resigned on Sunday, saying he had taken full responsibility for advising the prime minister on appointing Mandelson as ambassador to the US.
Starmer has faced calls in recent days to stand down as prime minister, including from within his own party, as the fallout from the Mandelson revelations gathered momentum.
He will address Labor MPs on Monday evening in an attempt to strengthen his case.
