UK PM Starmer chairs Cabinet, pledges ‘never to walk away

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday chaired his first weekly Cabinet meeting following a leadership challenge, asserting he would “never walk away” from his mandate, the people, or the country. The challenge arose amid controversy over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US, a move that drew criticism due to Mandelson’s past associations. Starmer stressed that the real political fight is not within the Labour Party but against far-right politics, particularly Reform UK, which he said seeks to divide the nation. He reaffirmed his focus on addressing the cost-of-living crisis and improving living standards across the country. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar had called for Starmer to resign, but the Prime Minister received strong support from his Cabinet and party leaders, including Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Starmer’s public statements and Cabinet meeting signal his intent to maintain party unity, move past the crisis, and concentrate on governance while addressing ongoing political and social challenges.