Newscast The Week: How Keir Starmer Survived
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Feb 13, 2026 
Tim Shipman, political editor of The Spectator, gives brisk insider reporting from Westminster. He recounts the tumble and survival of Keir Starmer’s leadership, the fallout around a key adviser’s resignation, party tensions over strategy, and a bizarre US ambassador shortlist that names unexpected figures. Short, sharp analysis of a turbulent week in UK politics.
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Questions About Starmer's Leadership Endure
- Tim Shipman and others raised doubts about Starmer's engagement with policy and driving government direction.
- Questions about Starmer's purpose, energy and leadership abilities are likely to persist despite temporary survival.
Chasing Reform Voters Is A Risky Gamble
- Jane Green argued McSweeney's focus on courting Reform voters puzzled many on the left and risked neglecting losses to parties on Labour's left.
- Early by-election tests could show that votes lost to the left matter more than those gained from Reform.
Sarwar's Desperate Public Break With Starmer
- Anas Sarwar publicly called for the Prime Minister to go, a high-profile and risky move tied to Scottish electoral pressure.
- He acted because he faced the prospect of coming third and losing his job in upcoming Scottish elections.