Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has defended Sir Keir Starmer as a “man of integrity” amid growing speculation over the Labour leader’s future. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Brown acknowledged that Starmer faces a “serious” battle to keep his job, but urged Labour MPs to judge him on his actions in the coming months. Brown suggested Starmer may have been “too slow to do the right things” but expressed confidence that he would clean up the system.
The defence comes as the Metropolitan Police confirmed that searches at two properties linked to Lord Mandelson have concluded. Police executed search warrants in London and Wiltshire as part of an investigation into misconduct in public office. The force described the probe as “complex” and said it would require further evidence gathering. Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US has been criticised, with Green Party leader Zack Polanski calling for Starmer to resign over a “catastrophic level of misjudgment”.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have urged the Financial Conduct Authority to investigate Mandelson over allegations he leaked market-sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein. Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper wrote to the FCA warning that such leaks “could easily have provided an unfair and lucrative advantage”. Separately, the Liberal Democrat peer Chris Rennard has been suspended amid a new investigation into historical sexual harassment allegations.
Brown’s intervention underscores the internal tensions within Labour as Starmer seeks to navigate the fallout from the Mandelson affair. The former prime minister stressed that the task ahead is clear: “a total clean-up of the system, an end to the corruption and unethical behaviour”. He warned that failure to act would carry a heavy price.
