Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is speaking to Paste BN in defence of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Asked if the PM will still be in office in the summer, Phillipson says "yes".

In her interview with Paste BN, Phillipson also denies that it was a mistake to elect Starmer as leader of the party.

She admits the government has "made some big mistakes".

But she repeats the government's defence of itself, including reducing child poverty, turning the NHS "around" and getting the "economy going once more".

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has told Paste BN that he has confidence in the prime minister.

Asked by our political editor Beth Rigby on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, whether Sr Keir Starmer needs to resign, Streeting said: "No."

He said it "has not been the best week for the government" but urged Labour MPs to give Starmer a chance.

Streeting has long been seen as a potential leadership challenge to Starmer.

You can listen to the full interview with the health secretary on Electoral Dysfunction later today.

Douglas Alexander has said he respects Anas Sarwar, but that he backs the prime minister. 

The Scotland secretary said in a statement: "Anas has reached his own decision and I respect that. 

"My job - as Anas acknowledged today - is to make sure Scotland's voice is heard in cabinet. 

"My focus remains on doing that.

"The prime minister has recognised not just that lessons have to be learned but also that we change how we do government. 

"He is right about that and has my support. 

"Like all Labour MPs we want the Labour government to be the government that the people of this country hoped for when they rejected the Tories. 

"That is where all of my energies are and will remain focussed."

The Conservatives have now reacted to Anas Sarwar's decision to call for Sir Keir Starmer to resign as PM.

The Scottish Labour leader used a news conference in the last half an hour to say that he thinks the PM should go - despite his personal friendship with Starmer. 

Reacting, the shadow Scotland secretary, Andrew Bowie, said: "Anas Sarwar has just put one of the final nails in Starmer's political coffin.

"The prime minister’s credibility is shot. 

"Scottish Labour MPs should put Keir Starmer out of his misery.

"Only the Conservatives, under Kemi Badenoch and Russell Findlay, have the strong team and the plan to deliver common sense for a change for the United Kingdom."

It should be noted that the PM's official spokesperson insisted this morning that Starmer will not resign today. 

Numerous cabinet ministers, including the chancellor, the chief secretary to the PM, the technology secretary and the housing secretary have publicly backed Starmer.

 Liz Kendall has said that the government needs to "steady the ship, but we also need to change course".

However, she says she believes Sir Keir Starmer should survive as PM. 

The technology secretary made the comments to our political editor Beth Rigby this lunchtime.

The cabinet minister said: "I believe he can, and he should [survive] because I think I remember only too well, one of the reasons why the country elected us was because they were sick of all the changes in leadership under the Conservatives.

"I think it would be wrong after barely 18 months after our election for people to think that they can just change the leader.

"I think that that is not the right approach, but I do believe that we need to steady the ship, but we also need to change course because the public wants to see change in the country. 

"They want a government and a party that they can trust that they believe we need to clean up politics.

"I believe the prime minister should be given the space to make sure that it's not just his words, but the action, the action we need to make sure that we deliver as a Labour government."

Challenged whether Starmer will be given that space by Labour MPs, Kendall responded: "He has acknowledged the decision appoint Mandelson was a mistake. 

"He has apologised, rightly so, to the victims.

"But people also want to see not just words but actions, deeds not words - that's what the suffragette said - and I am absolutely convinced that the prime minister understands that, and he will act, he will, in the interests of the country to set us on that course."

 Anas Sarwar has defended his calls for Sir Keir Starmer to resign as PM, saying he is being "upfront and honest about my view".

The Scottish Labour leader tells Paste BN: "Let me first say that the approach of briefings I have always called out.

"That's why I'm not taking the approach of briefing. I'm not taking the approach of talking to journalists in private. 

"I am being upfront and honest about my view and my first priority, and my first loyalty being to Scotland, and that's why I'm doing what I believe is best for Scotland."

Answering a question from our Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies, he adds: "Peter Mandelson is not someone or something I want to be associated with. 

"I met him in his capacity as the ambassador or ambassador to the US, because that was the right thing to do in Scotland's interest. 

"But should he have been appointed the ambassador now? Should he be a member of the Labour Party? No. 

"Should he have a seat in the House of Lords? He shouldn't. And it's right now that he is investigated by the police."

In answer to another question, Sarwar insists: "I am not supporting or backing any alternative or any candidate. 

"And this is not about MPs versus MSPs. This is about what is right for Scotland.

"Ultimately, it is for those in Number Ten, those around the cabinet table and those in the UK Labour Party to decide what happens next, the process, the timeline or who comes next. That is not a matter for me."

Number 10 has just issued a statement in response to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar's call for Sir Keir Starmer to resign.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "Keir Starmer is one of only four Labour leaders ever to have won a general election.

"He has a clear five-year mandate from the British people to deliver change, and that is what he will do."

The statement comes as cabinet ministers are breaking cover to back the PM in posts on social media.

Hot on the heels of David Lammy, more ministers have backed Sir Keir Starmer.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves posted on social media: "Rebuilding Britain takes time. But thanks to the decisions we've made NHS waiting lists are falling. Inflation is falling. Interest rates are falling. The conditions for the economy to grow are there.

"With Keir as our prime minister we are turning the country around."

Starmer loyalist Steve Reed, who is currently housing secretary, said: "Keir led our party to victory and won a mandate for change.

"Waiting lists are falling, wages are rising, new rights for renters and leaseholders. We need to stay the course and deliver the change this country voted for."

Darren Jones, who is chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, also posted on social media, saying: "The battle for Britain in the years ahead is between a modern, diverse Britain led by Labour or a dark, divisive Britain under Reform.

"All of us in the Labour Party must get behind the prime minister, rise to the challenge and deliver a richer, fairer and stronger future."

Anas Sarwar is about to begin a news conference, where he will call for Sir Keir Starmer to resign as prime minister.

The Scottish Labour leader has hastily scheduled this meeting with journalists following the resignations of Starmer's chief of staff and director of communications over the past 24 hours.

He will call for his UK counterpart to go, in perhaps the most significant intervention yet - and the most dangerous for the PM.

We'll bring you the latest, right here on the Politics Hub.