Overview
- Speaking in Munich, Keir Starmer told the Sun on Sunday he would "absolutely" lead Labour into the next general election and acknowledged the Mandelson appointment was a mistake.
- He said he ended the week "much stronger" than he started and stressed unity on Ukraine and European security in public remarks at the Munich Security Conference.
- The leadership scare eased after every Cabinet minister publicly backed him within hours of Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar urging him to resign.
- Sarwar later said he "didn't step back" from his call in a phone conversation with Starmer, described feeling "liberated," and shifted focus to the May Holyrood campaign.
- Pressure continues with three senior No10 departures, police and parliamentary scrutiny around Mandelson’s links, the expected release of vetting files, and electoral tests including the 26 February Gorton and Denton by-election.