All posts tagged: Mandelson

Mandelson and Streeting wooed News UK bosses days before general election

Mandelson and Streeting wooed News UK bosses days before general election

Published by Sam Flores

Newly released Mandelson files reveal a cosy dinner between the former US ambassador, former health secretary Wes Streeting and senior News UK figures days before the 2024 general election. The meeting appears to have been part of a charm offensive led by Streeting seeking backing from the press for Labour in the election. The dinner in question appears to have taken place on 1 July 2024, ahead of the UK general election on 4 July. At the time Lord Mandelson was running a lobbying business called Global Counsel and Streeting was the shadow health secretary. An exchange of Whatsapp messages between Mandelson and Streeting on the morning of 2 July 2024 refers to a dinner involving Lachlan Murdoch (by that stage chairman of News Corp), News UK CEO Rebekah Brooks and Times editor Tony Gallagher. The messages do not make it clear what other News Corp/News UK executives were present. [02/07/2024, 08:19] Peter Mandelson: Message from Rebekah that lachlan really enjoyed the dinner and that they all thought everyone in great form and it felt …

Politics Home | Mandelson Said The Starmer Operation Needed “Complete Revamp”, New Messages Show

Politics Home | Mandelson Said The Starmer Operation Needed “Complete Revamp”, New Messages Show

Published by Sam Flores

The second tranche of documents related to Mandelson’s appointment were published on Monday (Alamy) 4 min read44 min The former UK ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, told a cabinet minister that Keir Starmer’s No 10 operation required a “complete revamp and infusion of purpose” in a series of WhatsApp messages last year, the latest tranche of documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment show. On Monday afternoon, the government published the second tranche of documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment and tenure as UK ambassador to Washington.  The files, which number more than 1,000 pages, show that Mandelson said that Starmer is “consistently going for direction B” in a July 2025 exchange of messages with Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden, who was then chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster.  In the messages, Mandelson told McFadden: “I went in to No 10 after I saw you. It is beleaguered and bereft. It requires complete revamp and infusion of purpose and confidence to get anywhere.” While discussing staff in No 10, Mandelson suggested the team around Starmer …

8 Eyebrow-Raising Takeaways From The Peter Mandelson Files

8 Eyebrow-Raising Takeaways From The Peter Mandelson Files

Published by Sam Flores

The government has released the highly-anticipated second tranche of internal files on Peter Mandelson and his brief appointment as ambassador to the US. The ex-Labour peer fell from grace last September after the depth of his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was revealed. But questions remain around why he was appointed in the first place and what kind of influence he had with ministers. The Conservatives forced the Cabinet Office to release all documents related to the controversial hire earlier this year via a parliamentary procedure called a “Humble Address”. The first tranche of documents showed that Mandelson had got the top job against recommendations from security officials. Most ministers and civil servants have handed over their private exchanges with the former Washington attache for the second batch of documents. Some of the files have been redacted amid concerns about international security and the ongoing Metropolitan Police probe into Mandelson’s conduct in public office. The ex-Labour peer has not been charged and insists he is not guilty of any wrongdoing. Deciding to appoint Mandelson …

Peter Mandelson Attacked Keir Starmer's No.10 Operation In Brutal Private Messages

Peter Mandelson Attacked Keir Starmer's No.10 Operation In Brutal Private Messages

Published by Sam Flores

Keir Starmer and Peter Mandelson during a welcome reception at the ambassador’s residence in February last year. Peter Mandelson launched a brutal attack on Keir Starmer’s No.10 operation in private messages with a senior cabinet minister. The former US ambassador told Pat McFadden that Downing Street was “beleaguered and bereft” under the PM’s leadership. He also said the government lacked “verve” and needed to act “in a more Trumpian risk-taking and dare-devil way” to turn around Labour’s fortunes. The disgraced ex-Labour peer’s stinging criticisms were revealed in nearly 1,500 pages of documents released by the government into his appointment as the UK’s ambassador to Washington at the end of 2024. In one message to McFadden, who was Cabinet Office minister at the time and one of the PM’s closest allies, on July 30 last year, Mandelson said: “I went in to No.10 after I saw you. It is beleaguered and bereft. “It requires complete revamp and infusion of purpose and confidence to get anywhere.” That came two months after Mandelson had also condemned the government’s …

UK’s diplomats left in disarray by Mandelson scandal – POLITICO

UK’s diplomats left in disarray by Mandelson scandal – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

That cut short Robbins’ mission to deliver a radical program of departmental reform by 2030 — and now insiders complain this has left the department, once a prized part of the British government machine, rudderless and fearful for what comes next. This additional pressure comes at an unusually busy time in foreign affairs, when Starmer is keen to project confidence on the world stage. Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA trade union representing civil servants, said the ministry had “lost a really visible leader” and now there was “turmoil, because someone’s now got to try and pick up that mantle not in a planned transfer of power, but in a crisis they didn’t need.” ‘State of shock’ Robbins was in charge of the “FCDO 2030” project, which aimed to reduce the department’s overall headcount between 15 and 25 percent — removing around 2,000 jobs — by the end of the decade.  Olly Robbins, a veteran of the Brexit negotiations, was sacked by Starmer over alleged security vetting lapses. | Jack Taylor/Getty Images Under the …

Politics Home | MPs Vote Down Tory Bid To Refer PM To Privileges Committee Over Mandelson

Politics Home | MPs Vote Down Tory Bid To Refer PM To Privileges Committee Over Mandelson

Published by Sam Flores

Prime Minister Keir Starmer avoided a parliamentary inquiry on Tuesday evening over whether he misled the House of Commons. (Alamy) 2 min read1 hr Keir Starmer will not face an investigation into whether he misled Parliament over the appointment of Lord Mandelson after MPs voted down a Conservative Party motion to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee. The House of Commons voted against the move by 335 to 223 on Tuesday night, with a majority of Labour MPs rowing in behind the Prime Minister. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has accused Starmer of misleading Parliament in his claim that due process was fully followed in the appointment of Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US. The PM has apologised for his decision to appoint the former Labour cabinet minister, but insisted that due process was followed throughout. Starmer said the vote, which was granted by House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, was a “political stunt” by rival parties ahead of next week’s local elections. While the majority of Labour MPs sided with the government, a …

7 takeaways from marathon Mandelson vetting hearing – POLITICO

7 takeaways from marathon Mandelson vetting hearing – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Early in the hearing, McSweeney told MPs that he “didn’t feel” he had got the whole truth back from Mandelson in those three answers. This would be political dynamite, given Starmer pressed ahead anyway. But later in the hearing, McSweeney corrected himself — saying he acquired these doubts in September, after it emerged Mandelson had been better friends with Epstein than he let on (“it was like a knife through my soul”). “I didn’t think he had lied [at the time]. I thought he had told the truth, and that was the basis of which I thought we were going ahead,” said McSweeney. “But I also thought if I was wrong, if he had been lying … that might be picked up at [developed vetting].” In other words, each part of the system was relying on the other to make a judgment call. Barton, too, said he was “worried” about Mandelson’s Epstein links and expressed reservations to No. 10 National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, but added: “There was no space or avenue or mechanism for …

9 Bombshells From Starmer’s Ex-Top Aide Over Mandelson Hire

9 Bombshells From Starmer’s Ex-Top Aide Over Mandelson Hire

Published by Sam Flores

Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney has spoken out over the government’s controversial decision to hire Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US for the first time. He was today scrutinised by MPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee over the ex-Labour peer’s appointment. McSweeney resigned from his senior role in February this year, taking full responsibility for encouraging the prime minister’s to hire Mandelson despite his known links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer’s premiership now hangs in the balance after the Guardian reported Mandelson had failed his security vetting – but was still hired as the government’s attache to Washington. Here’s what we learned from McSweeney’s lengthy evidence session. 1. McSweeney Calls Mandelson’s Appointment A ‘Serious Error Of Judgement’ In his opening remarks, McSweeney immediately took responsibility for supporting Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador, calling it “a serious error of judgment.” He said: “The prime minister advice relied on my advice and I got it wrong.” 2. McSweeney Insists He Did Not Try To ‘Push Anything Through’ The former senior aide …

Politics Home | No 10 Was “Uninterested” In Mandelson Security Vetting, Says Ex Foreign Office Chief

Politics Home | No 10 Was “Uninterested” In Mandelson Security Vetting, Says Ex Foreign Office Chief

Published by Sam Flores

Former foreign office permanent secretary Philip Barton appeared before MPs in parliament on Tuesday. (Alamy) 4 min read46 min The former head civil servant in the Foreign Office has told MPs that Downing Street showed an “uninterested” attitude towards the security vetting of Lord Mandelson. Speaking to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday morning, Sir Philip Barton also said he felt at the time of Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to the US that it “could become a problem” given the peer’s links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Barton, who left his post shortly after Labour entered government, said there was pressure from No 10 to complete Mandelson’s appointment as soon as possible, but sought to stress that there was no pressure on the “substance” of Mandelson’s vetting. Asked whether he would agree with his successor in the Foreign Office, Sir Olly Robbins, who last week told the same committee that No 10 was “dismissive” about Mandelson’s vetting, Barton said: “I wouldn’t use the word dismissive, the word I would use is uninterested.” He said that there was …