Starmer faces further torment over Mandelson scandal as leadership doubts swirl

{"text":[[{"start":10.55,"text":"Sir Keir Starmer next week faces another round of torment over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal, amid claims that the prime minister’s authority is rapidly draining away, decisions are being shelved and his leadership is on the line."}],[{"start":24.55,"text":"“It feels like the end of days,” said one Labour official, normally supportive of Starmer, after a week in which he endured mocking laughter from MPs after setting out what he called the “incredible” latest revelations of the Mandelson affair."}],[{"start":40.35,"text":"Ministers and MPs are openly debating the process by which Starmer might be removed from Downing Street after what are expected to be dismal election results for the governing party on May 7. “I want him to stay, but I don’t know if it will be possible,” said one minister."}],[{"start":55.95,"text":"Starmer’s decision to appoint Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington in December 2024 has sapped his authority for months. The prime minister has apologised for the misjudgement, but his agony is not over."}],[{"start":70.9,"text":"On Tuesday Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s former chief of staff, will give his version of events at the House of Commons foreign affairs committee, as will Sir Philip Barton, head of the Foreign Office when Mandelson was initially appointed."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":85.4,"text":"The Conservatives claim Starmer has misled parliament and the prime minister’s assertion that no pressure was put on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to approve Mandelson’s appointment will be put under fierce scrutiny by MPs, especially in their evidence session with Barton."}],[{"start":101.5,"text":"Aside from the details of the vetting scandal, the affair has reinforced in the minds of some ministers and Labour MPs that Starmer is not up to the job: that he has bad political judgment and lacks grip."}],[{"start":113.75,"text":"Officials note the wheels of government turning more slowly. Starmer’s inability to grip the repeatedly postponed military investment plan was reinforced this week by the Ministry of Defence announcing — then pulling — a Commons update on whether it will axe or press ahead with the beleaguered £6.3bn Ajax armoured fighting vehicle programme. "}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":135.1,"text":"“It’s the hallmark of the end: Whitehall is grinding to a halt,” said one defence figure. A Labour official added: “Keir has become more indecisive in recent weeks. He is turning in on himself, his circle of advisers is shrinking. Things just sit on his desk.”"}],[{"start":151.45,"text":"The question absorbing Labour — from the cabinet down to activists — is what happens in the hours and days after the party’s certain meltdown in the May 7 elections. “I’ve been out knocking on loads of doors,” said one Labour official. “People hate us. It’s like a ‘let’s get shouted at’ tour.”"}],[{"start":167.7,"text":"In calmer times, Starmer might hope to ride it out. The “soft left” wing of Labour — most MPs — is not yet ready to mount a challenge and would rather wait a few months before the prime minister is toppled."}],[{"start":180.54999999999998,"text":"Angela Rayner, former deputy leader, has yet to resolve her tax affairs with HM Revenue & Customs and is unpopular with voters, while the darling of the left, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, is not an MP and cannot stand."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":197.1,"text":"“Andy will get a seat,” one minister said confidently. Rumours abound that a seat in his native Liverpool could become free in a by-election and that, unlike in January, Starmer will not have the authority in the ruling National Executive Committee to stop him."}],[{"start":213.75,"text":"Wes Streeting, the Blairite health secretary, is being watched carefully by Number 10. “Wes has to move soon or he’ll miss his chance,” said another minister. Streeting’s allies insist he will not instigate a challenge to Starmer, but he is “preparing” just in case."}],[{"start":230.4,"text":"The worst-case scenario for Downing Street is that things spiral out of control for Labour in the hours after polls close on May 7 as the scale of the defeat in Scotland, Wales and across London becomes clear."}],[{"start":243.35,"text":"The fear on the Labour left is that Starmer faces a challenge after May 7 when it is not ready, clearing the way for Streeting. “That’s why people are talking about Keir setting out a timetable for his departure — to give Andy time to get ready,” said one Labour official."}],[{"start":258,"text":"But what if Starmer refused to bow out gracefully, but still faced a challenge? Streeting would be expected to enter the fray, but who would carry the torch for the soft left? Ed Miliband, energy secretary, Yvette Cooper, foreign secretary and John Healey, defence secretary, are increasingly mentioned by MPs."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":279.1,"text":"Starmer’s allies believe that this uncertainty of who would follow — let alone what alternative policy prospectus they might offer — will stave off a coup in the short term."}],[{"start":288.3,"text":"In the meantime, Starmer says he is focused on what really matters: the war in Iran, the cost of living, energy security and national security. “The rest is just tripe,” said one ally."}],[{"start":299.6,"text":"Steve Reed, housing secretary and an ally of Starmer, said: “In a political cycle you get downs and you get ups.” In a message to potential rebels, he added: “They just need to look at what a political cycle is like. If you chop and change all the time you end up like the Tories.”"}],[{"start":324.40000000000003,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1777084782_5933.mp3"}