The bitter civil war within the Labour Party has exploded into public view once more, as key allies of Sir Keir Starmer have issued a brutal ultimatum to one of its most famous architects: Lord Peter Mandelson must 'pack his bags' and leave for good.
The astonishing attack, launched by Shadow Paymaster General Jonathan Ashworth, signals a definitive break from the Blairite era that once defined New Labour's electoral success. It reveals the deepening ideological schism as Starmer ruthlessly reshapes the party in his own image.
The Unforgivable Sin: Undermining the Leadership
Ashworth's fury was ignited by Mandelson's recent public criticisms of Starmer's leadership and policy agenda. For the current Labour top brass, such dissent from a grandee is not just disagreement; it's an act of treachery that cannot be tolerated.
'Peter Mandelson should pack his bags and leave the party if he doesn't like what he sees,' Ashworth declared, leaving no room for ambiguity. His comments underscore a zero-tolerance approach towards anyone perceived as undermining the project to make Labour electable again.
A Party Purged of Its Past?
This public dressing-down is far from an isolated incident. It appears to be a coordinated effort to sideline influential figures from the Tony Blair and Gordon Brown years, effectively purging the party of its recent history.
Starmer's team is sending a clear message: the party's future direction will be dictated from the leader's office, with no room for backseat driving from the old guard. This aggressive consolidation of power aims to present a united, disciplined front to the electorate, but risks alienating the party's established base.
The Battle for Labour's Soul Rages On
This latest spat is more than a mere personality clash; it represents the final throes of a bitter battle for the very soul of the Labour Party. Mandelson, the mastermind behind three general election victories, now finds himself persona non grata in the movement he helped build.
As the next general election looms, Starmer is betting everything on a disciplined, tightly-controlled campaign. The message to all party members, both past and present, is stark: get on board, or get out of the way.
