Starmer vows to defend ‘first rate Britain’ amid fury over Mandelson
Bryony Gooch5 February 2026 05:00
Watch: Starmer admits he was conscious of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein when making appointment
Bryony Gooch5 February 2026 04:00
Labour’s Mainstream group requires ‘clear break’ after ‘betrayal’ of Mandelson appointment
The controversy surrounding Lord Mandelson – who has stop the Home of Lords, resigned from the Labour Occasion, been faraway from the Privy Council and faces a legal investigation following new revelations from the so-called Epstein information – has led to intensifying questions on Sir Keir’s political future.
Labour’s Mainstream group referred to as for a “clear break” after the “betrayal” of the peer’s appointment to “probably the most highly effective diplomatic posts on the planet” regardless of his friendship with Epstein being public information.
The centre-left grouping, which is backed by Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham – lengthy seen as a possible management rival to Sir Keir – stated its members didn’t wish to watch the social gathering “succumb to the identical previous illness” of “elite privilege, spin and poisonous factionalism”.
Bryony Gooch5 February 2026 03:00
Labour rebels pressure PM into humiliating climbdown on Mandelson information
Bryony Gooch5 February 2026 02:00
Watch: Most surprising emails between Mandelson and Epstein
Bryony Gooch5 February 2026 01:00
Anne McElvoy: Epstein will likely be remembered as a good greater scandal than the Profumo affair
Bryony Gooch5 February 2026 00:00
Pictured: Starmer in Home of Commons

Bryony Gooch4 February 2026 23:00
Starmer to ward that communities’ ‘devastating decline’ may influence nationwide safety in bid to maneuver on from Mandelson
Sir Keir Starmer will warn that communities’ “devastating decline” may imperil nationwide safety, as he seeks to maneuver on from the rising anger over the Lord Peter Mandelson scandal.
The prime minister will say “Britain has been undermined by political neglect” on Thursday as £800 million in new funding to revamp decrepit excessive streets is introduced.
Sir Keir is anticipated to say: “Britain has been undermined by political neglect, the scorched earth of Tory austerity. In cities throughout Britain, the identical story, excessive streets, youth golf equipment – the locations that form a life – that carry totally different folks collectively, that create the bonds of reminiscence and pleasure – they had been simply deserted.
“As a result of politics on this harmful period is not about left and proper, however a contest between renewal and grievance. Between those that settle for the concept society is a zero-sum competitors and people who consider we are able to unite for the upper goal.”
Bryony Gooch4 February 2026 22:48
Marr: There’s ‘no approach again’ for the Prime Minister
Andrew Marr has declared “We’ve got entered the ultimate stage of the Starmer premiership” as there may be “no approach again for the Prime Minister, dwell on LBC.
Bryony Gooch4 February 2026 22:29
Starmer offers in on civil servant veto plan
Paperwork will likely be launched by the Cupboard Secretary working with attorneys or, for materials deemed to doubtlessly battle with nationwide safety or international relations, it is going to be handed to the Intelligence and Safety Committee to resolve, a minister has stated.
The Prime Minister had backed down from his authentic plan for high civil servant Sir Chris Wormald to resolve which paperwork couldn’t be launched on nationwide safety grounds or as a result of they might prejudice worldwide relations.
Beneath strain from Labour MPs, led by former deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Sir Keir Starmer accepted the choice might be made by Parliament’s Intelligence and Safety Committee (ISC) as a substitute.
Minister Chris Ward informed the Commons: “I simply wish to affirm to the home the fabric is not going to be launched right this moment due to the dialog with the Metropolitan Police over that, however it is going to be launched as rapidly as doable, in step with the method set out earlier than the Home.”
He stated there was “numerous materials” to undergo and pointed to different humble addresses which have taken “weeks or months”.
Jane Dalton4 February 2026 22:00














