In a dramatic power play that has sent shockwaves through Westminster, Sir Keir Starmer has sacked veteran Labour grandee Peter Mandelson from his prestigious role as a party steward. The move comes after Lord Mandelson repeatedly ignored direct warnings from the leader's office to temper his public commentary.
The former Business Secretary and architect of the New Labour project was unceremoniously removed from the position—a role that traditionally involves overseeing party leadership elections—after what sources describe as a final straw moment for the current leadership.
A History of Tensions
Insiders reveal that tensions had been simmering for months. Mandelson, a figure synonymous with the Blair-Brown era, had been offering unsolicited and often critical advice through various media appearances and his popular podcast. Senior aides to Starmer had reportedly reached out on multiple occasions, urging the peer to be more circumspect in his public pronouncements.
These warnings, however, were seemingly dismissed, culminating in the decisive action to remove him from the influential steward post. The move is being widely interpreted as Starmer firmly stamping his authority on the party and distancing its current trajectory from its recent past.
Clearing the Decks
Political commentators are viewing the sacking as part of a broader strategy by Starmer to 'clear the decks' of potential dissenters and present a unified, disciplined party to the electorate. By sidelining a figure as prominent as Mandelson, Starmer is sending an unambiguous message about who is in charge and the direction he is taking Labour.
The fallout underscores the ongoing internal struggle within the party as it seeks to redefine its identity and present a cohesive front in the lead-up to the next general election. This bold manoeuvre is likely to resonate through the halls of power, signalling that the Starmer era will be markedly different from what came before.
