John Swinney is right to demand Andy Burnham strip Lord Mandelson of his peerage, and the Prime Minister must make it happen. The disgraced Labour veteran permanently resigned from the House of Lords in February 2026 following intense political pressure and a scandal regarding his historical links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Of course, he was also rightly sacked as ambassador to the US. Yet he still gets to call himself “Lord”. That is a national disgrace.
Renewed calls from the SNP
Swinney called it an “absurdity” months ago when the SNP tried to force the issue with a Bill in the House of Commons. He was ignored.
Now Burnham sits in No10 and he is facing renewed calls from the SNP to strip Mandelson of his lordly title. Burnham has talked a good game about cleaning up politics and restoring trust.
A badge of honour in a system that rewards the powerful
A good start would be forcing Lord Mandelson to ditch his title. Mandelson’s Lordship is not some harmless leftover.
It is a badge of honour in a system that rewards the powerful, no matter how low they sink. Victims of Epstein have watched this farce for too long.
Ordinary people who play by the rules see a former minister keep the trappings of power after betraying the public’s confidence. That breeds mistrust in the whole business of politics.
Burnham knows the law can be changed. Governments have stripped titles before when the national interest demanded it. A short, clear bill would do the job. No endless committees. No kicking it into the long grass. Just get it done.
It was former PM Keir Starmer’s greatest failing that he could not see the obvious failings of this disgraced figure. Burnham has a chance to show he is different – and make this utterly degraded Lord plain old Peter again.
Scammer shame
The Record reports today how scammers have been trying to cash in on public support for a Scots charity doing some amazing work. Eilidh MacLeod was just 14 when she was among 22 people killed on May 22 2017 at US singer Ariana Grande’s Manchester concert.
The charity set up in Eilidh’s memory by her family was inspired by her love of music and helps young musicians across Scotland develop their skills. But fake accounts seeking donations have now forced Eilidh’s Trust to issue a warning to its supporters and the general public.
The miserable parasites who engage in these scams are the lowest of the low. But Eilidh’s family will continue their good work regardless – showing kindness, community and courage will always outshine greed and hate.
