Starmer's Premiership in Peril as Mandelson Scandal Erupts
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is braced for a dramatic confrontation with furious Labour MPs on Monday, as he fights to salvage his leadership amidst the escalating fallout from the Lord Peter Mandelson scandal. The political crisis deepened over the weekend with the resignation of his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who stepped down citing "full responsibility" for advising Starmer to appoint Mandelson as US ambassador despite his known association with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Resignations and Rising Fury in Westminster
McSweeney's departure has intensified pressure on the Prime Minister, with several Labour backbenchers now openly questioning Starmer's judgement and demanding he consider his own position. The parliamentary Labour Party is set for a tense meeting where Starmer will attempt to placate his critics and outline his strategy for moving forward. Brian Leishman, Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, stated publicly that the Prime Minister should "question whether he should follow McSweeney's lead" for the "good of the country."
Meanwhile, Rachael Maskell warned on BBC Radio 4's The Westminster Hour that if Starmer fails to demonstrate a commitment to making the Labour Party more "inclusive," he will find it "difficult to continue." Her comments underscore the profound unease within party ranks, as MPs grapple with the reputational damage inflicted by the Mandelson affair.
Mandelson's Payoff Under Government Review
Further complicating matters, reports indicate that a five-figure payoff received by Lord Mandelson as part of his exit package upon being sacked as US ambassador is now under review by the Foreign Office. Mandelson was dismissed in September following the emergence of new emails detailing his relationship with Epstein, which also revealed allegations that he leaked sensitive government information to the financier while serving as a minister.
This financial scrutiny adds another layer to the scandal, fuelling anger in Westminster and raising questions about the propriety of the appointment process overseen by Downing Street.
Defiant Starmer Takes Fight to the Country
Despite the mounting calls for his resignation, a defiant Keir Starmer is preparing to embark on a nationwide tour next week, aiming to refocus public attention on his government's policy agenda. Downing Street has confirmed the Prime Minister will be "out and about making the case for why [his Labour] government is delivering for working people" across the country.
This public relations offensive is seen as a critical attempt to steady his premiership and counter the narrative of a leader besieged by scandal. However, the strategy carries significant risk, as it may be perceived as tone-deaf to the gravity of the situation unfolding within his own party.
By-Election Looms as Litmus Test
The political storm arrives at a perilous moment, with a crucial by-election in Gorton and Denton scheduled for 26 February. Deputy Leader Lucy Powell has described the vote as a "dry run" for a general election and a "line in the sand" in Labour's battle to halt the advance of Nigel Farage's Reform UK.
Powell admitted that the Mandelson scandal is likely to feature prominently in doorstep conversations, and she could not guarantee Labour's retention of the historically safe seat or confirm whether the Prime Minister would campaign there. The by-election is increasingly viewed as a referendum on Starmer's leadership in the wake of the controversy.
Warnings Ignored and Internal Dissent
Revelations that Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy had warned Starmer against appointing Mandelson, preferring an extension for Dame Karen Pierce due to her connections with Donald Trump's inner circle, have exacerbated the sense of a leadership failure. Friends of Lammy suggest Starmer is now "devastated" by the scandal and contemplating his future.
Adding to the picture of misjudgement, Labour peer Maurice Glasman revealed he personally advised McSweeney against the Mandelson appointment over a year ago, after being shown photographs of Mandelson with Epstein in Washington. Glasman told Sky News he warned Number 10 that Mandelson was "the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time," but his concerns about the "massive" resonance of the Epstein story in the US were not heeded.
Broader Implications and Political Reckoning
The crisis has sparked a wider debate about accountability and safeguards in government. While former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for new anti-corruption measures to prevent document leaks, senior Conservative Alex Burghart argued that no commission could guard against a Prime Minister's "bad decision." He stated bluntly that Starmer "had a clear choice, he had clear information, and he made a bad decision."
As Sir Keir Starmer faces his party and the Commons on Monday, the immediate future of his premiership hangs in the balance. The Mandelson scandal has not only claimed his chief of staff but has ignited a firestorm of dissent that threatens to consume his authority, with the upcoming by-election poised to deliver a verdict on his ability to survive.
