"Keir Starmer has brought in Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman as advisers in a move to ease the mounting pressure on the prime minister to resign after the disastrous election results for Labour. Brown, the former prime minister and long-serving chancellor under Tony Blair, has been made Starmer's envoy on global finance, with a brief to advise on financial partnerships to help with defence-related investments, particularly with Europe. Harman, who was Labour's deputy leader under Brown, will be the prime minister's adviser on women and girls, focusing on tackling violence and improving economic opportunities."
"While the roles are part-time and unpaid, there is deliberate symbolism in Starmer gathering Labour heavyweights around him as he battles to save his job, particularly with the optics of Brown being pictured with him at Downing Street on Saturday morning. Harriet Harman was Labour's deputy leader under Gordon Brown. Photograph: International Pool/PA"
"With the bulk of the votes now counted from Thursday's series of elections, Labour lost more than 1,400 councillors across England, shedding support to Reform UK and the Greens in traditional heartlands. In Wales, the party lost power for the first time, plummeting to just nine Senedd seats behind Plaid Cymru and Reform UK, while also losing ground in the Scottish parliament."
"Abrahams told the BBC on Saturday morning she hoped Starmer would always put the country first given the electoral threat from Reform. We have to recognise the dangers that we're in now, that on this trajectory it doesn't look good. Asked how quickly he should consider departing, Abrahams said: I think it is a matter of months."
Keir Starmer appointed Gordon Brown as envoy on global finance and Harriet Harman as adviser on women and girls. Brown will advise on financial partnerships to support defence-related investments, particularly with Europe. Harman will focus on tackling violence and improving economic opportunities for women and girls. The roles are part-time and unpaid, with symbolism intended to signal Labour heavyweights rallying around Starmer amid pressure to resign after poor election results. Labour lost more than 1,400 councillors in England, lost power in Wales for the first time, and fell behind Plaid Cymru and Reform UK in the Senedd. Labour also lost ground in Scotland. Some Labour MPs called for Starmer to set a date to hand over leadership, with Debbie Abrahams saying it should be a matter of months.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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