Minister says Mandelson ‘conned everyone’ in defence of Keir Starmer – UK politics live | Politics
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John McDonnell He added his voice to the growing dissent among Labor MPs as he questioned why senior party figures did not challenge Starmer during Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador.
McDonnell, who was shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn, shared on X: “Why didn’t they stand up and speak out? This is about more than Keir’s decision, it’s a collective failure of all Labor leaders.”
“I believe Keir is a responsible person and will want to consider whether he should continue as Prime Minister in the interests of the country and the party. But replacing him with someone who remains silent at a critical time will not restore confidence in the party or politics.”
The Labor MP for Hayes and Harlington suggested an interim leader be appointed for a limited period “to undertake the clean-up of our party and politics before electing a new leader”.
Farage: Mandelson scandal ‘biggest scandal in British politics for over a century’
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage He says there was a scandal. Peter Mandelson and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein “The biggest scandal in British politics for over a century”.
Speaking at an event at the Wales International Convention Center in Newport, Farage said:
It’s not just some kind of Partygate, it’s a little bigger.
This includes sex, there is money, there is royalty. It involves leaking market-sensitive, confidential information.
I suspect it comes pretty close to breaching the Official Secrets Act in many respects. This is much bigger than the Profumo scandal 60 years ago. This is the biggest scandal in British politics for over a century.
Farage also said he believed prime minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney would “disappear quite quickly”.
“I don’t know how long Starmer will remain in office as Prime Minister,” he said. “I’m actually very worried about this. I want him to stay forever.”
Sacking Downing Street chief of staff Morgan McSweeney According to Keir Starmer’s former strategic communications director, this would not help the prime minister.
James Lyonswho left No 10 in September, told Sky News this morning:
In every administration there are people who are lightning rods for criticism. This is definitely one of the many roles Morgan is playing now.
But it’s unclear to me how that would benefit the prime minister if he loses Morgan. At a time like this, when you are in a situation like this, you want to have your most capable and loyal helpers around you.
McSweeney thought to be close mandelson and a key ally in his successful bid to become the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States.
Meanwhile, reed accused the investigative process of failing to determine the scope of the outbreak Mandelson’s relationship with epstein Before his appointment as US ambassador.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
The problem arises from a well-established process that has gone through in the same way as any appointment of this kind, and this predates the arrival of this government.
Frankly, we need to look at this review process. But decisions can only be made based on information available at the time, and Mandelson lied and covered up the extent of his affair.
He said the relationship was over and barely existed.
We now know this was not the case, but the decision was taken at the time based on Mandelson’s experiences as a former EU trade commissioner and UK business secretary. This information, if known, would completely disable him.
Earlier this morning, Reed told Sky News that the revelation of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein left him feeling like “a punch in the stomach”.
Keir Starmer it was believed Peter Mandelson When he revealed his relationship with pedophilia jeffrey epstein “It was next to nothing,” said Steve Reed.
“You are only as good as the information you receive,” the cabinet minister told LBC Radio. “Mandelson suggested relationship barely existedSo they don’t know each other very well.
“There was a review process involving security forces and they did not point out any additional concerns… a liar lies.”
Reed said he wanted to release documents “as quickly as possible” showing “what the prime minister saw when Peter Mandelson lied to him” before his appointment as the government’s ambassador to Washington.
“We need to look at documents that will show the extent to which Peter Mandelson lied,” he said.
‘Of course’ Starmer and McSweeney are safe in their jobs, says Reed
Prime Minister and his private secretary Morgan McSweeney They are safe in their jobs, Steve Reed he insisted.
It was asked whether Keir Starmer The housing secretary told BBC Breakfast: “Of course it is.”
Sky News was pressed on whether McSweeney was safe in his post after he was accused by several Labor MPs of pushing for his ally Peter Mandelson to be appointed as the UK’s ambassador to the US in 2024.
Reed replied: “Yes, of course it is.”
Housing secretary says Mandelson defrauded everyone including Keir Starmer
Hello and welcome to the UK politics blog.
Following harsh criticism in the House of Commons last night Peter Mandelson scandal, prime minister’s housing minister was on the defensive Keir Starmer in the media this morning.
Steve ReedA Starmer loyalist insisted: Mandelson “scammed everyone” about her ongoing relationship with a convicted pedophile jeffrey epstein.
He told Sky News:
It is not the prime minister or his team who is at fault here.
It was actually Peter Mandelson who lied, manipulated and deceived everyone, including the media, because he was also in the media so frequently. He defrauded everyone.
What matters is what you do when you figure out what went wrong. And the prime minister could not have been more determined. Months ago, he dismissed US ambassador Peter Mandelson at 5 in the morning.
It sounds like this Labor MPs warned last night that Starmer’s days are numbered. The government remained on the brink of defeat in the House of Commons until a change was made mid-debate. Meg Hillier And Angela Rayner Securing the release of documents about Mandelson’s appointment and the depth of his involvement with the convicted child sex offender.
The eventual release of the documents, which could be delayed by the police investigation into Mandelson, could trigger a leadership struggle, MPs said. “We need all the poison to come out,” one MP said.
A former minister said: “We’ve had a lot of bad days recently, but I think this is the worst so far”, while another MP warned: “Confidence is limited. I’m not sure I could personally trust myself to support the prime minister in a no-confidence vote.”
“The deadliest mood is among the super loyalists,” said one MP from the 2024 intake.
