No 10 confident Sarwar acted alone in call for Starmer to go

Downing Street initially feared Scottish Labour leader's move was part of a wider leadership challenge

Downing Street is increasingly confident that Anas Sarwar's call for Keir Starmer to stand down was not part of a coordinated plot by a leadership rival to bring down the prime minister, the Guardian understands.

The Scottish Labour leader spoke to several cabinet ministers including Wes Streeting, as well as former deputy leader Angela Rayner, ahead of his explosive intervention on Monday, but sources said he had not revealed his plans.