Watch live as top civil servant Cat Little appears before the Foreign Affairs Committee, facing further scrutiny over the vetting process to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. It comes as a growing rift emerges in Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet, with ministers turning against the prime minister over his handling of the Lord Mandelson scandal. The atmosphere among the top team has been described as “bleak”.
Cabinet Tensions Rise
Several of Sir Keir’s ministers, including Rachel Reeves, Shabana Mahmood and Wes Streeting, have reportedly accused the PM of creating a “them and us” split between No10 and the civil service. One senior government source told The Telegraph that “there is a sense that it’s over now”, and that the “wheels have stopped turning” in Downing Street.
What’s at Stake?
The vetting row has deepened divisions within the government, with critics questioning the transparency and process behind Mandelson’s nomination. Little’s testimony is expected to shed light on whether proper protocols were followed, and could further strain relations between the prime minister and his own party.
