One of Sir Keir Starmer's Cabinet supporters has compared him to the suffragettes as the Prime Minister finds himself on the brink. Liz Kendall, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, said in an interview with Sky News broadcast this afternoon: "I would urge my colleagues to think about the dog-end of the Tories, where they were constantly changing leaders. That was one of the things people were very angry and fed up about in the country.

"They wanted clear and stable leadership. Keir Starmer should be given the space to be able to do that. He has acknowledged the decision to appoint Mandelson was a mistake. He has apologised, rightly so, to the victims. But people also wqant to see not just words, but actions. Deeds not words, that's what the Suffragettes said, and I am absolutely convinced that the Prime Minister understands that, and he will act. He will act in the interests of the country to set us on that course."

The leader of Scottish Labour, Anas Sawar, said this afternoon that the PM should resign.

Mr Sawar said: "The distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change.”

He added: "It is so obvious that we desperately need change in Scotland, and in three months time’ the opportunity to get rid of a failing SNP government is one that is too important to be missed.

“We cannot allow the failures at the heart of Downing Street to mean the failures continue here in Scotland, because the election in May is not without consequence for the lives of Scots.”

A Downing Street spokesman said: “Keir Starmer is one of only four Labour leaders ever to have won a general election.

“He has a clear five-year mandate from the British people to deliver change, and that is what he will do.”

The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, backed Sir Keir, saying: “With Keir as our Prime Minister we are turning the country around.”