Sir Keir Starmer and Peter Mandelson have become the latest targets of online satirists, featuring in a new artificial intelligence-generated music video that reworks a classic pop ballad. The spoof emerges as the Prime Minister faces intense scrutiny over his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, which continues to threaten his political authority.
The Mandy Parody: AI Takes Aim at Westminster
The creators behind the Crewkerne Gazette, a spoof website known for its politically charged content, have produced a video imagining Sir Keir Starmer performing a rewritten version of Barry Manilow's 1974 piano ballad Mandy. The AI-generated footage depicts the Prime Minister sitting at a piano while singing altered lyrics directed at former Labour peer Peter Mandelson.
In the video, Lord Mandelson appears wearing a distinctive red gown, with subsequent scenes showing both figures frolicking on a hillside and riding a horse together. The parody represents the latest in a series of viral creations from the Somerset-based duo, who have previously targeted prominent political figures including Angela Rayner, Rachel Reeves, David Lammy, and even the King.
Lyrics That Bite: Political Satire Set to Music
The rewritten lyrics offer pointed commentary on the ongoing Epstein controversy. The modified chorus includes the lines: 'Oh, Mandy – well, you came and you lied without breaking, but I sent you away. Oh, Mandy – well, you leaked to Jeff and stopped me from shaking, and I need you today – oh, Mandy.'
Additional verses contain references to political pressure, with one line stating: 'The night goes into morning, just another day - Tories grilling my way' and another declaring: 'I'm standing on the edge of resign – I walked away when spin was mine'. These lyrical adaptations cleverly intertwine the musical parody with current political tensions.
Mounting Pressure on Downing Street
The satirical video arrives during a period of significant political difficulty for Sir Keir Starmer. The Prime Minister admitted during Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions that he appointed Lord Mandelson as Britain's ambassador to the United States last February despite being aware of his continued friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Downing Street has confirmed that Sir Keir also knew Mandelson had stayed at Epstein's residence while the financier was imprisoned for child sexual abuse offences, and after his release. According to reports, when Mandelson's appointment was being considered towards the end of 2024, the Cabinet Office ethics team provided the Prime Minister with a two-page document outlining various conflicts and previous scandals.
Revelations from Epstein Documents
The latest release of over three million Epstein-related documents has revealed new information about Mandelson's communications following the financier's conviction and imprisonment. Emails within this tranche appear to show that Lord Mandelson, while serving as Business Secretary in Gordon Brown's government in 2009, passed potentially market-sensitive information to Epstein.
Sir Keir has insisted he acted decisively by dismissing Mandelson last September when it emerged the former peer had advised Epstein to appeal against his conviction for soliciting a minor. Addressing MPs, the Prime Minister stated he was 'as angry as the public' about his former ally's conduct, adding: 'He lied repeatedly to my team when asked about his relationship with Epstein… I regret appointing him.'
The Crewkerne Gazette Phenomenon
The creators describe their platform as 'the sharp end of Somerset – a politically incorrect, AI-fuelled, chaos-driven newcomer, where truth and satire dance together, like drunks at The White Hart', referencing a pub in Crewkerne. The site was established by two friends in their thirties who originally met as teenagers at Yeovil College.
Operating under the pseudonym 'Crewkerne Man', one of the creators told the Daily Mail last November that these videos represent 'a work of art' that can require days to produce. The process involves rewriting lyrics, recording their own vocals, altering their voices to avoid recognition, and employing artificial intelligence to complete the visual elements.
A Growing Catalogue of Political Satire
The Crewkerne Gazette has developed an extensive portfolio of political parodies that have attracted tens of millions of views worldwide. Previous creations include:
- Rachel Reeves featuring in a rap video about licensing violations regarding her family home
- Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves appearing together in a parody of Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines, renamed Scandal Lines
- Justice Secretary David Lammy covering Britney Spears' Oops!… I Did It Again with lyrics about prisoner releases
- Sir Keir Starmer sporting Boy George-style plaits while singing Karma Starmeleon
- Nigel Farage DJ-ing in various flamboyant outfits, which the Reform UK leader himself reposted online
- The King rapping about nature in a tracksuit with botanical references
Political Fallout and Calls for Accountability
The Epstein scandal has prompted criticism from across the political spectrum. Dame Emily Thornberry, Labour chairman of the foreign affairs committee, suggested the diplomatic appointment fiasco could have been avoided if the Prime Minister had allowed Mandelson to be interviewed by MPs rather than rushing through the political appointment.
More dramatically, John McDonnell, former shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn, told Sky News that the Prime Minister should resign over the matter, stating: 'I've never called for him to go but I have lost confidence in him. The decisions around Mandelson pushed me over the edge.'
Lord Mandelson, who is losing his peerage and place on the Privy Council, has denied that the documents reveal any illegal activity or personal gain. He has repeatedly expressed regret over his friendship with Epstein while maintaining that he broke no laws.
As the Epstein scandal continues to generate headlines and the AI satire video circulates online, pressure mounts on Sir Keir Starmer's leadership. The intersection of technology, satire, and political accountability creates a uniquely modern challenge for Downing Street, demonstrating how digital culture increasingly influences political discourse and public perception.
