Starmer is facing his judgment day over Mandelson missteps
Keir Starmer has spent much of the last 24 hours working on a plan for what senior government figures are already describing as his “judgment day”: his showdown with MPs on Monday over the latest Peter Mandelson revelations.That the prime minister was apparently not told of Mandelson’s vetting failure has provoked incredulity across Westminster and accusations he sacked a senior civil servant to save his premiership.It has also shone a spotlight again on what many feel is Starmer’s biggest failing: his political judgment.Even though some proclaimed Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s latest “Trump whisperer” a stroke of genius at the time, the risks were always clear.It was common knowledge Starmer’s pick for UK ambassador to Washington had been sacked from cabinet twice, had an ongoing relationship with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and had business links with China.
It did not need the Cabinet Office’s propriety and ethics team to raise red flags and warn the prime minister of the reputational risk of appointing him (though it did).Had Starmer been aware that Mandelson had failed his vetting, allies say, he would have blocked the appointment.Of course, had he been aware and it had gone ahead, he would be in an even messier predicament than he is now.Instead, the prime minister looks like a man who is not really in control, incurious and uninterested in what is really going on inside his government.While he says he was “staggered” not to have been told, it is hard to escape the impression that, if he had asked a few questions, he may have been able to find out.
So one of the things puzzling MPs right now is why, at no point, did the prime minister or his political aides think to ask about Mandelson’s deep security vetting.Or indeed, that the system was not – until last week – able to tell him.When Starmer was told by officials on Tuesday night that Mandelson had failed his vetting, he immediately – we’re told – demanded they establish all the facts so he could update parliament.He will no doubt be asked on Monday why he did not think it was worth sharing even just the headline fact with parliament at PMQs last Wednesday.Ministers are expected to correct the record as soon as they realise they have made a mistake – inadvertently or otherwise.
Instead, MPs learned from the Guardian, with cabinet ministers sharing stories of finding out while in mid-air, on trains, out door-knocking – all taken by surprise and adding to the sense of disarray gripping the government,Starmer promised to restore stability and order when he came to power after years of Tory chaos,There were high hopes this former lawyer – “Mr Rules” as one cabinet minister described him at the time – would bring back propriety,It is not just his MPs who have been left disappointed by the Mandelson saga, but the wider public as well,What could be regarded as a story about Westminster process is, in fact, a much more significant one that goes to the heart of what sort of man the prime minister is, and what sort of government he leads.
Starmer was already facing a difficult few weeks, with Labour bracing for a rout in May’s local and devolved elections, and further economic fallout expected at home from the Iran crisis.The prime minister’s team had carefully prepared how they were going to get him through it, and were taking some succour from the quiet in the Labour ranks as he navigated his way through a difficult international picture.Labour MPs, many of whom have been agitating for change at the top for months, stepped back from the brink when actually presented with an opportunity: the party’s Scottish leader, Anas Sarwar, calling for him to go back in February.Downing Street aides allowed themselves a sigh of relief.But Labour MPs will be watching closely – waiting to be convinced – when Starmer appears before them on Monday.
And again when that sacked civil servant, Oliver Robbins, answers questions of the foreign affairs committee on Tuesday,They know the public has been losing faith in the political system for years,Every twist and turn of the Mandelson scandal accelerates that,So when another opportunity presents itself to change leadership, they may take it,
Ed Miliband to double down on net zero with measures to combat Iran energy shock
Ed Miliband will double down on Labour’s commitment to net zero in the face of the Middle East conflict this week, insisting that as fossil fuel prices soar “the era of clean energy security must come of age”.The energy secretary is set to announce a package of new policies in a speech on Tuesday in response to an expected energy crisis prompted by Donald Trump’s war with Iran.These will include speeding up the warm homes plan to encourage the rapid take-up of solar panels and electric vehicles; expanding the use of solar on public land; and delinking gas and electricity prices, to cut consumers’ bills.“As we face the second global energy shock in less than five years, the lesson for our country is clear; the era of fossil fuel security is over, and the era of clean energy security must come of age,” he is expected to say.Oil prices plunged on Friday amid claims that the key maritime choke point of the strait of Hormuz was reopening – but those hopes were dashed over the weekend, with Iran insisting it would remain under “strict control”
ABF poised to reveal result of Primark and food business demerger plan
Primark may break free from Kingsmill, Twinings and the sugar business this week when Associated British Foods announces plans on a mooted demerger.The potential split comes at a tricky time for the group controlled by the billionaire Weston family, with its fashion and food arms facing tough competition and rising costs.ABF, which owns bakeries, a sugar production business and provides ingredients to the restaurant trade alongside selling brands including Patak’s spice flavourings, Blue Dragon sauces and Jordans cereals, said in November last year that it was considering a demerger of Primark, its fashion arm. It said a strategic review carried out with the help of the advisory company Rothschild & Co had “a view to maximising long-term value”.That was followed by a subdued statement on Christmas trading in January when the company admitted that annual sales were likely to be flat year on year and profits down
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In the early hours of 10 April, a man approached the gate of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s house in San Francisco and hurled a molotov cocktail at the building before fleeing. The suspect, 20-year-old Daniel Moreno-Gama, was arrested less than two hours later while allegedly attempting to break into the headquarters of OpenAI with a jug of kerosene, a lighter and an anti-AI manifesto.Federal and California state authorities have charged Moreno-Gama with a range of crimes including attempted arson and attempted murder. His parents issued a statement this week saying that their son had recently suffered a mental health crisis. Moreno-Gama, who has not yet entered a plea, faces up to life in prison if convicted
Kenyan firm sacks more than 1,000 workers after losing Meta contract
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‘This feeling sucks’: $381m Mets, with second-highest payroll in MLB, lose 11th game in a row
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James Rew shines with the bat as Somerset set up Hampshire chase – as it happened
End of Day Three Round Up:James Rew held firm for Somerset once more to see his stock rise further and keep his side in the hunt for a final day victory on the south coast. After his first innings 86 the cherubic faced stroke maker was undefeated on 58 at the close of an intriguing day in Southampton. Lewis Gregory bustled his way to a five wicket haul earlier in the piece as Nick Gubbins top scored with 83 in the home side’s second innings effort of 336.Hampshire’s Sonny Baker then had his dander well and truly up and the opposition in trouble by pocketing the Cidermen’s top three of Archie Vaughan, Tom Lammonby and Joshua Thomas, albeit the first two were guilty of being careless on the pull. Rew and Tom Abell then steadied the applecart to leave Somerset needing 148 more to pull off the win
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