Earlier in the week, the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for Kier Starmer to resign from his position as Prime Minister in the wake of the scandal involving Peter Mandelson and his close friendship with convicted sex offender and child trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein. It was revealed that despite knowing Peter Mandelson had a close connection to a notorious pedophile and serial rapist, Kier Starmer appointed him as the UK Ambassador to the United States, a move which has backfired and caused the Labour party irreparable damage.
Whilst Kier Starmer has asserted that Mandelson lied about the extent of his relationship with Epstein throughout the vetting process, many critics argue that the move to appoint Mandelson despite past ties with a known sex offender was an incredibly poor decision to make, one that would ultimately cause serious problems in terms of the party’s standing with the public and its reputation to hold office.
Shortly after Sarwar’s call for the PM to resign, reports emerged that Eluned Morgan, the First Minister of Wales would follow in calling for Starmer to quit No.10. However, a tweet quickly emerged reporting that Eluned Morgan would be delaying her response to assess the impact of Sarwar’s action. Her initial silence drew criticism from Labour MPs with one calling for her to be more supportive of the PM and saying, “The lack of support is infuriating.”
Labour MPs as well as Kier Starmer’s cabinet have rallied in support of Starmer and Eluned Morgan has now joined the ranks of those calling for stability and strong leadership in the wake of Sarwar’s move.
In her statement, FM Eluned Morgan said:
“I support the Prime Minister in the job he was elected to do. After years of revolving-door leadership under the Conservatives, the country needs stability in an age of instability, and that matters for Wales.
“I had concerns that Peter Mandelson was incompatible with public office because of the company he kept. What has since come to light has only reinforced those concerns.
“These issues are deeply troubling not least because, once again, the voices of women and girls were ignored.
“That failure must be acknowledged and confronted honestly.
“Leadership means upholding standards and acting when they fall short.
“Ultimately, I judge any Prime Minister by a simple test: whether they deliver for Wales. I have been clear with Keir about what Wales needs. Action on the cost of living, investment in our economy and infrastructure, and a continued commitment to stronger devolution.
“My focus remains on leading Wales with integrity and delivering real change for people here.”
Yet many will not fail to notice that Labour’s reputation is taking a turn for the worst. Opinion polling shows that Labour is haemorrhaging support. 13% of Britons approve of the government’s record, while 69% disapprove, resulting in a net rating of -56. The recent Epstein scandal which entangles the British Government will only add to this over the next few weeks as investigations commence.
Meanwhile, The latest YouGov/Times survey (9–10 Feb 2026) places Reform UK on 26% or 27%, often ahead of both Labour and the Conservatives. Despite this, Nigel Farage’s approval rating as leader of Reform is at an all-time low. 65% of those polled are not in favour of Farage, with only 28% in favour, meaning he has a net rating of -37.
What this means is that although Reform UK is ahead of the game and looks set to potentially be the new leading party in the UK, Reform may undergo some leadership changes of its own in order to appeal to other demographics. With Reform’s latest leadership reveal in Newport South Wales, it’s clear that the aim is to attract younger voters and to break into those areas where pulling votes may prove difficult for a right-wing party.
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