We’re former No 10 insiders – ask us anything about what’s next for Starmer
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Welcome to a privileged event Ask Me Anything in session with us, former deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara and former special adviser to Theresa May and Boris Johnson Cleo Watson. You may also know us as the hosts of The Independent’s politics podcast. in the room.
Scroll down to see our questions and answers. Don’t forget to hit the ‘load more’ button to read the full Q&A.
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It would not be wrong to say that there is a very active period in UK politics at the moment.
For starters, the Mandelson security investigation scandal received a lot of attention last week, and so far we’ve only received the first ‘slice’ of the files (which we’ve discussed before). The fourth episode of In The Roomwas more filler than killer). The whole sad affair has drawn criticism from MPs within and outside his party for, among other things, Keir Starmer’s decision. And while he was prime minister Managed to evade privileges committee investigation this week, but the to-do list is still extensive. And thorny.
There is the cost of living crisis, which Starmer has called his ‘number one priority’ but has apparently made little progress in doing anything about it, and will only get worse as the Iran war continues. The government still has more ‘Mandelson dossiers’ to reveal. There are no permanent secretaries left in the Foreign Office following the sacking of Olly Robbins. The UK’s defense posture is ‘in jeopardy’, according to a former NATO secretary general (and what do they know?). A cabinet reshuffle is on the cards and on Thursday 7 May the country will head to the polls for local elections that some experts predict will be Labour’s worst ever result.
Are you having trouble keeping up? Feeling overwhelmed? Still not sure what advanced review is and afraid to ask at this point? Don’t worry; We are with you.
As former Whitehall insiders with 30 years’ experience, we’re here to answer your most burning questions. What’s next for Starmer? Is his leadership really in danger? What’s going on in the Mandelson files? Was Olly Robbins a major scapegoat? So could Nigel Farage be Britain’s next prime minister?
How can you participate in the Q&A?
Make sure you are logged in to a registered account at independent.co.uk. Sign up or log in here – then return to this page to submit your question!
Leave your questions in the comments section below and come back Wednesday, May 6 between 13:00 and 14:00 BST for live Q&A.
