Starmer's Leadership Under Fire as Lammy's Warning Emerges
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is confronting severe questions about his political judgement following revelations that senior Cabinet minister David Lammy explicitly warned him against appointing Lord Mandelson as Britain's ambassador to the United States. This disclosure comes as Starmer endures the most significant crisis of his eighteen-month premiership, with the controversy surrounding Mandelson's connections to convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein continuing to escalate.
Cabinet Warnings Ignored
According to reports, both Foreign Secretary David Lammy and National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell advised Sir Keir Starmer in February 2025 not to proceed with Lord Mandelson's nomination for the crucial diplomatic post in Washington DC. Mr Lammy, who held the foreign affairs portfolio at the time, is understood to have favoured extending the term of the incumbent ambassador, Dame Karen Pierce, rather than appointing the controversial peer.
Sir Keir has since publicly apologised for 'having believed Mandelson's lies' regarding the extent of his association with Jeffrey Epstein. However, this admission has done little to quell the growing discontent within Labour ranks and among the wider electorate.
Polling Reveals Catastrophic Approval Ratings
New opinion research conducted by Opinium paints a devastating picture for the Prime Minister's standing. The survey of 2,054 adults reveals that fifty-five percent of the British public believe Sir Keir Starmer should resign from office, with only twenty-three percent supporting his continuation as Prime Minister.
Starmer's approval ratings have plummeted to historic lows, with just seventeen percent approving of his performance compared to sixty-one percent who disapprove. This results in a net approval rating of negative forty-four points, representing a three-point decline from the previous survey. The Prime Minister now trails behind all other major party leaders in popularity, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK's Nigel Farage.
James Crouch, head of policy and public affairs at Opinium, commented: 'The deepening fallout from the Mandelson appointment has pushed Starmer's rating even lower, with most voters now questioning his judgement on the appointment and placing equal blame on the prime minister and his advisers.'Leadership Speculation Intensifies
As pressure mounts on Sir Keir Starmer, speculation about potential successors has intensified within Westminster circles. Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who is also reported to have cautioned against Mandelson's appointment, is being widely discussed as a leading contender for the leadership.
Other prominent figures mentioned as possible candidates include:
- Health Secretary Wes Streeting
- Energy Secretary Ed Miliband
- Armed Forces Minister Al Carns
- Labour Deputy Leader Lucy Powell
However, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham appears to have diminished prospects after being blocked by Starmer's allies from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election, effectively hampering his leadership ambitions.
Financial and Investigative Fallout
The controversy has extended beyond political ramifications, with revelations that Lord Mandelson received a substantial five-figure severance payment when his appointment was terminated in September 2025. Allies of Prime Minister Starmer have called for the peer to return this taxpayer-funded payment or donate it to a victims' charity.
The Foreign Office has confirmed that a formal review has been initiated 'in light of further information that has now been revealed' regarding the appointment process. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police investigation into Lord Mandelson for alleged misconduct in public office continues, with officers having completed searches of his properties in London and Wiltshire.
Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hayley Sewart stated: 'This will be a complex investigation requiring a significant amount of further evidence gathering and analysis.'
Public Perception and Political Consequences
The polling data reveals profound public scepticism about the Prime Minister's decision-making process. A significant majority of fifty-six percent believe Sir Keir Starmer should have anticipated the controversy surrounding Lord Mandelson's appointment and consequently should not have proceeded with the nomination. Only fifteen percent consider the decision reasonable based on information available at the time.
Despite the escalating crisis, Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has publicly affirmed his support for Sir Keir Starmer. A spokesman for Mr Lammy stated: 'The Deputy Prime Minister is focused on the job in hand and fully supports the Prime Minister as he gets on with delivering for the British people.'
Lord Mandelson has consistently denied any wrongdoing regarding his association with Jeffrey Epstein, maintaining that the so-called 'Epstein files' do not demonstrate any illegal activity or personal gain. The seventy-two-year-old peer has repeatedly expressed regret over his friendship with the disgraced financier, but this has done little to mitigate the political damage inflicted upon the Starmer administration.
