British Politics
Been on holiday for a few weeks, surprised to find no general discussion of British politics so though I'd kick one off.
Mandelson to Epstein:
"fight for early release"
"your friends are with you and love you"
"I think the world of you and I feel hopeless and furious about what has happened."
"I can still barely understand it. It just could not happen in Britain. You have to be incredibly resilient, fight for early release and be philosophical about it as much as you can.... Everything can be turned into an opportunity and that you will come through it and be stronger for it"
Seems pertinent that despite Mandelson being brought into the heart of government by Kinnock, John Smith wanted nothing to do with him.
And he fitted well with Blair.
Tricky problem now. Going to be hard to find someone anywhere near as good at sliming along with trump.
I think that's down playing mandlesons adeptness
You don't get to get sacked three times merely by being qualified.
Guessing the next ambassador will be a professional diplomat like previous incumbent Kim Darroch, not a favoured crony like Mandelson or, back in the day, Peter Jay.
Serious concerns have been raised that newly sacked US ambassador Peter Mandelson did not clear security vetting for the role – but the prime minister pushed through his appointment anyway.
Sources have told The Independent that MI6 failed to clear the Labour peer largely because of concerns over his business links to China.
However, there were also worries that his past links to the disgraced financier and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein “would compromise him”.
The row has broken out as Sir Keir Starmer faces serious questions about his judgement from his political opponents, but also from Labour MPs after Lord Mandelson became the latest high-profile sacking by the prime minister over issues that should have been detected earlier.
When The Independent put the claims that Sir Keir had pushed through Lord Mandelson’s appointment despite not clearing MI6 vetting, a spokesperson said: “Vetting done by FCDO in normal way.”
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/co...
This could get even worse for starmer.
Just saw that Starmer sacked the UK Ambassador to the US for his comments on Epstein - could Starmer have chosen a worse guy?
Media now need to go into bat for the conservatives and give them the majority in a coalition with Reform as best outcome rather than giving the majority to Reform
Just maybe he is capable of getting rid of mcsweeny
Who know what he might do if he gets angry enough about being cast in the role of macbeth.
Good old Clive Lewis has come out and said what most of the PLP, even those on the right, must be privately thinking - that Starmer simply isn't up to the job.
Apparently there's "mounting panic" in Downing Street that Peter Mandelson has decided to try to bring Keir Starmer down with him.
The Times
Pressure mounts on Sir Keir Starmer over political judgement in appointing Lord Mandelson.
* Lord Mandelson told his vetting officer that he had continued his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein for many years and that he deeply regretted doing so. He feels ill treated by Starmer
* Cabinet ministers are questioning Starmer’s judgment. ‘It was obvious from the start that he [Mandelson] was the wrong choice. It was just a matter of time. It’s so damaging’zAnother said it should have been “obvious” that Mandelson’s resignation was inevitable
* Mandelson refused to resign so Starmer sacked him. Concern in foreign office Mandelson would not go quietly
Of course, the turd that won't flush that is Mandelson will only seek to have him replaced by someone equally right wing.
wasn't starmer in intelligence? i don't see how he could possibly get away with playing dumb here lol
No. He was a law graduate who specialised in Human Rights (oh the irony) and eventually weaselled his way up the ladder to become Director Of Public Prosecutions.
No great intellect needed, just a good sense of how to obey and apply existing rules.
There's no way they didn't know that Mandelson has a history with Epstein but probably thought it qualified him for the job of Ambassador to the US because Trump has a similar history.
Now Kinnock has come out in defiance of Starmer and said that Palestine Action aren't a terrorist group, that people have a right to be appalled at the situation in Gaza and proscription of PA is 'blunting' terror laws.
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“I’m not even sure Starmer can survive until May,” one Blair-era cabinet minister said. “The mood is dire. The message from pretty much across the board was that one more major issue like Rayner/Peter and the dam would burst. But this is the Labour party so we shall see.”
Hey UK you are doing so great that even Italy is considered less disfunctional than you
