Top Scottish Labour MP urges Keir Starmer to quit as Prime Minister

Alan Gemmell said the PM “no longer has the trust or confidence of the public”.

A fourth Scottish Labour MP has called for Keir Starmer to quit by setting a date for his departure from office.

Alan Gemmell said he does not believe the embattled PM can win the next general election for Labour.

Starmer made a make-or-break speech this morning amid huge dissatisfaction within his MP group at his leadership.

Former deputy leader Angela Rayner and Health Secretary Wes Streeting are poised to run if Starmer quits.

In a statement seen by the Record, Central Ayrshire MP Gemmell wrote:

“Having campaigned weekly across Ayrshire since October it was clear the Prime Minister’s unpopularity would stop us from achieving a Labour victory in Holyrood. At door after door voters told us they disagreed with decisions that had been taken.

“Our country faces enormous challenges and we need a Labour government that can deliver the scale of change this requires. The message from last week’s elections is clear: the Prime Minister no longer has the trust or confidence of the public to lead this change.

“I listened to the Prime Minister today. Sadly I don’t believe he can lead us into, and win, the next election therefore he must now set a date for his departure.

“I am deeply sorry for the people I campaigned with who would have been excellent MSPs. We need to start afresh in communities across the country to win back trust and deliver a radical agenda to improve working people’s lives.”

It comes after fellow Scottish Labour MPs Brian Leishman, Euan Stainbank and Irene Campbell also called for the PM to go.