Helen Chandler-Wilde: The Coup Has Ended, the Problems Have Not

So, the coup is over, at least for now. Yesterday morning, many predicted that this would be the end for Keir Starmer, as he took the flak for the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, despite his links with Jeffrey Epstein. The departures of Starmer’s chief of staff and his head of comms weren’t enough to satisfy the thirst for blood of some in his party – including Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, who called for his resignation.

But by the evening, the coup had fizzled. Sarwar was left out in the cold, embarrassed that none of his colleagues took up his call for the prime minister to leave. Starmer faced down potential dissenters, and got public support from all of the cabinet.