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.
Does the UK have a 25th amendment type solution to get Starmer out? I know guy’s like Tommy Robinson and Mayer Tousi would be front runners on the right. Somebody needs to get in here and clean up this mess.
Britain has a parliamentary system. The prime minister is whoever can 'command the confidence of the House,' that is, an MP who can rope together a majority to get government bills passed. Neither Tommy Ten-Names nor Mahyar Tousi is an MP (mind, neither is the pseudonymous 'Zack Polanski', former hypnotist and leader of the Greens, who wants to legalise crack and smack and ban horse racing and quit NATO in favour of an alliance with Putin -- quite Trumpian in the last respect, but currently and mystifyingly popular with the idiot-woke middle-class tendency).
Britain has a parliamentary system. The prime minister is whoever can 'command the confidence of the House,' that is, an MP who can rope together a majority to get government bills passed. Neither Tommy Ten-Names nor Mahyar Tousi is an MP (mind, neither is the pseudonymous 'Zack Polanski', former hypnotist and leader of the Greens, who wants to legalise crack and smack and ban
Think what you will about Zack Polanski (not much of a fan), but calling him pseudonymous is a stretch. He legally changed his name to reflect his familial surname. It's not a "Tommy Robinson" situation.
57 knows that. its been pointed out before. The nonsense about an alliance with putin is bullshit as well
It's blatant new / changed labour propaganda. It does show how worried they are. Too much to hope they would respond with policies rather than silly attacks.
Guardian investigation uncovers decision by UK security officials to deny clearance before Mandelson took up role as US ambassador
According to multiple sources, Mandelson was initially denied clearance in late January 2025 after a developed vetting process, a highly confidential background check by security officials.
Keir Starmer had by then announced he would be making Mandelson the UK’s chief diplomat in Washington, posing a dilemma for officials at the Foreign Office, who decided to use a rarely used authority to override the recommendation from security officials.
Mandelson’s failure to secure vetting approval has not previously been publicly revealed, despite intense scrutiny over his appointment and the release by the government of 147 pages of documents supposed to shed light on the case.
Further documents are due to be released. However, it can also be revealed that senior government officials have been considering whether to withhold from parliament documents that would reveal that Mandelson was not given vetting approval from security officials.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
One thing we can be certain of is there is absolutely no way this is starmer's fault
He was lied to by everyone, followed all the processes and totally competent.
No10 says the PM didn't know that Mandelson failed vetting (and the Foreign Office supposedly overruled the security service) till two days ago. Which is a bit weird.
Not being told is a feature not a bug. Or at least there being no evidence you were told about it or directed it. But this one is tough because someone, who must be very senior, in the foreign office is on the line for having made the decision and having failed to inform No 10.
Let's be cynical though - unless there's a smoking gun, it will still depend whether labour want rid of starmer or not. That decision may still depend on the May elections. Don't vote for this disgusting new changed labour!
As Jal said he's almost certainly lying. If not, then at best he's jaw droppingly incompetent if he actually didn't know this.
Maybe.
Anyway olly robbins has been sacked. Starmer need to go as well. It's overwhelmingly likely that either he was told or it was well understood that he didn't want to be told. Also he is responsible anyway and has been so dishonest about this whole affair.
The Foreign Office's top civil servant has been effectively sacked after his department did not inform the prime minister that Lord Mandelson had failed security vetting for the role of US ambassador.
The BBC understands Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper have lost confidence in Sir Olly Robbins.
It comes after the government confirmed the Foreign Office went against the recommendation of the vetting agency and allowed Lord Mandelson to take up the post.
A spokesperson said neither Sir Keir nor any minister were aware Lord Mandelson had failed the vetting process until earlier this week.
On 10 September 2025, Sir Keir said three times that "full due process" was followed for the appointment.
The Ministerial Code states that ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament are expected to resign.
Taking questions from journalists following a press conference on 5 February in Hastings, Sir Keir also said that there was "security vetting carried out independently by the security services, which is an intensive exercise that gave [Lord Mandelson] clearance for the role, and you have to go through that before you take up the post".
On 10 September 2025, Sir Keir said three times that "full due process" was followed for the appointment.The Ministerial Code states that ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament are expected to resign.Taking questions from journalists following a press conference on 5 February in Hastings, Sir Keir also said that there was "security vetting carried out independently by the s
Again, at best this just makes Starmer look extraordinarily incompetent. He can't control his own foreign office? Foreign office can overrule UKSV without informing the PM? I find that hard to swallow. Also who cleared Mandeslon in terms of vetting? UKSV certainly didn't.
Like with mandlesons keeping in touch with epstein, the truth is more likely that starmer just didn't care. Which also mean he should go.
He will do the decent thing and resign when he has no other option. If the MPs wont do it this time then it's up to the voters to tell the MPs to tell starmer. If we wont do it then why should anyone else?
Starmer wasn’t placed into the Labour hierarchy to ask awkward questions, but to obey. Starmer knows his place.
He should be gone now but if not then hopefully after his sham of a Labour Party are routed in May.
Also wonder who knew (preferable provably). Mcsweeney? Cooper? Lammy ....
Will olly robbins talk? Are there documents? These questions and more ...
Starmer has fulfilled item 1 on his job description of ridding the country of Zionism sceptic Corbyn’s influence, so he’s dispensable now.
Next target will be Polanski, who I suspect we are about to learn is the most Jew hating Jewish person ever.
Remember this from many days ago. starmer's new great hire
Antonia Romeo, Keir Starmer’s most senior civil servant, has been given a powerful new mandate to deliver his priorities, while Darren Jones, the No 10 chief secretary, has shifted to a role more focused on wider Whitehall reforms.
Romeo, who was promoted last month, took over the job of cabinet secretary and head of the civil service after an unsuccessful year in charge by her predecessor, Chris Wormald, who was not considered effective enough by No 10.
In contrast, Romeo’s published objectives are full of requirements that she “visibly leads the civil service with clarity, energy and passion” and “champions a culture of curiosity, innovation and pride, recognising high performance and excellence in delivery and innovation”.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Now:
Downing Street has said Starmer did not find out about the vetting failure, which occurred in January 2025, until Tuesday this week. However, the Guardian has established that both Romeo, the government’s most senior civil servant, and Catherine Little, the Cabinet Office’s permanent secretary, have been aware since March.
Their delay in informing the prime minister will fuel concern about whether his government is being run by mandarins rather than ministers.
Romeo, who was appointed by Starmer in February, was told about the failure by Little in March. Little is the top civil servant at the Cabinet Office, which UKSV is part of. Her department has also been overseeing the process of complying with a “humble address”, parliamentary motion that ordered the government to release “all papers” relevant to Mandelson’s appointment.
A government source insisted Little “did not sit on the information” but was involved in a complex process and was trying to establish the risks in sharing highly sensitive information, including with the prime minister. The source added that Little informed Romeo of her plan to establish those risks. Romeo, the government source said, was supportive of the plan.
Too risky to tell poor old starmer even without the details apparently
He said he intended to govern as a Conservative. Well he’s certainly done that and is going out like one too.
