Yesterday the PM was unable to put the fires out. Deadly Opposition from the Conservatives confronted Starmer with a motion he needed to vote down, demanding full publication of all the documents around Mandleson, his appointment and his tenure as Ambassador.
The PM realised his huge majority was not with him and he could not perform the usual routine business of voting down an Opposition motion. He decided to compromise by offering to publish much, but keeping under his officials the right to withold important documents they deemed to be important to national security and or international relations.
His rebellious party would not accept that. Livid with how their top people had landed them in a huge crisis, many demanded full disclosure. The Conservatives proposed letting the senior, confidential Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee read the relevant papers and decide which if any should not be published. By the time Angela Rayner agreed with this the PM had no option. The hapless Minister defending him in the Chamber tried the line it was too late to amend the motion, but the Speaker made clear he would take a late manuscript change to accommodate the obvious mood of the House.
This feels like a seismic explosion, a large fire engulfing this Administration. By appointing Mandleson the PM came to part own the Blair government, the great banking crash of 2008-9 and worse still for him the worrying emails,payments and deals surrounding Mandleson.
The police enquiry may take time and may dampen some speculation. The governing party looks gutted by what has happened and is in no mood to cover up or support. There will be plenty of stories about what did go on in the dying days of the Brown government and in the Oval Office under Starmer. It is deeply embarrassing for our country, and it has upset the crucial relationship with the US President. The last thing Donald Trump wanted was more discussion of Epstein.
February 5, 2026
There are people in this country who don’t care about what Donald Trump wants. They don’t believe we have any crucial relationship either – nor do we want one.
February 5, 2026
I don’t think Donald Trump knows what he wants – it seems to change one day to the next.
We do have a natural relationship with the US. Those of us who have business dealings with the US find them good and worthwhile partners.
February 5, 2026
Funnily enough he always get what is good for the USA though, doesn’t he?
February 5, 2026
I agree Dave.
In my business life our company found it easier to export into the USA than into the EU.
As you say..good and worthwhile partners.
February 5, 2026
Politically deaf. So a relationship with the leader of our largest trading partner, the largest, most influential powerful etc country in the world, you and others, don’t care.
Sorry, but utterly ridiculous.
February 5, 2026
I read Lucas to say we shouldn’t fool ourselves we have a ‘special relationship’ with the USA – which most Americans haven’t heard of anyway. Of course we can have a normal trading relationship, and a military relationship as members of NATO. Nothing ridiculous about that.
February 5, 2026
Read his post again.
February 5, 2026
Yes, mainly they are in Downing Street at this very minute.
All sensible British people are proud of the state we birthed, proud of that half-Scot fighting man Trump. The forces which have attacked western culture relentlessly came against him too – he was impeached, arrested, shot at and yet he is beating Leviathan.
He gives us hope that we too might defeat the devil and pull through.
God Bless Britain and the United States!
February 6, 2026
Well said Lynn.
February 5, 2026
I note NATO and the UN are not quite so flippant about their non-crucial relationships with Trump now he’s told them the USA won’t keep bankrolling them.
I’m not sure any of this has anything to do with what Trump does and doesn’t want anyway.
It just seems whatever’s going on the deranged Trump syndrome people try and lay blame at his door in some way.
This is a domestic issue.
It’s to do with people being placed in sensitive positions they should not have been placed in, and not least because they have a track record of being a bit, shall we say dodgy, even if they had nothing to do with a person of great influence who is a very unsavoury character.
Birds of a feather and all that.
February 5, 2026
They’ll kick this into the long grass, and ensure that “matters of national security and or international relations” keep disclosure to a minimum. We’ve had massive, actual, child abuse covered up by the refusal to get to the truth of the rape gangs; do we really think they won’t hide anything to do with Mandelson?
The bigger picture is the widespread corruption (financial and moral) surrounding Epstein and his probable blackmail operation. This goes way further than Mandelson and Andrew Windsor. The pathetic press stories claiming Epstein was a Russian asset indicate a massive cover up is already underway.
As for Trump’s embarrassment, the more the better. Help Thomas Massie and all those who refused to let the Epstein story die. The murky power brokers of the establishment and political class are downright evil. We need a “great reset”, of them, not us.
February 5, 2026
Trump is really not involved in the Epstein crisis, he was approached of course, but all he did was ban Epstein from Mar a Lago. Never visited the island. I wish we could say the same for the Royal Family at least!
The politicians have lost control and can’t kick this into the long grass. That’s the glory of their Global Crime Gang. They wanted it, they are getting it good and hard. Globalism means you can’t shut down your own local difficulties….
February 5, 2026
Seems strange that the police have not yet made arrests or even impounded computers, phones, bank statements, tax returns… They moved rather more quickly against Lucy Connolly for her silly, heat of the moment Tweet which was withdrawn within two hours and was a first offence, in an emotional moment that perhaps should have received no more than a warning and not 31 months (upheld by the appeal court three appeal court judges as “Not manifestly unduly excessive”.
Jacob Rees-Mogg thinks Ed Miliband will replace Starmer and that his is an honest man who avoided Mandelson when leader. Well if Miliband is honest and really believes in his suicidally insane net zero rip off energy lunacy he is totally deluded and must surely be either very stupid indeed or besotted with this mad religion.
February 5, 2026
I watched Rees-Mogg talking of possibles as Starmer’s replacement.
It left me so irritated I couldn’t sleep.
I like Rees-Mogg as an individual. He is knowledgeable and explains intricacies very well without leaving you feeling you’re being talked down to.
However, I cannot work out if he is just taking a gentlemanly stance to an extreme, Parliamentary behaviour/speech to an extreme or is a very naive man about human nature.
I get the ad hominem principle, but to try and paint Milliband as an honest man simply because he’s not involved in this scandal is just pushing it.
Likewise with the rest of the Labour party, yes they may know what they want to achieve for this nation and haven’t met Epstein, but the fact of the matter is they are out to destroy this nation and its heritage.
How can you try and say ‘oh but apart from that, they are jolly nice sincere people’. They are not.
February 5, 2026
Ed Miliband is either honest but v. dim and totally deluded or he is totally dishonest about the Climate Alarmist Con Job! Tis one or t’other.
February 5, 2026
Strangely, Mandelson hasn’t been charged with any crime ….as yet, only under investigation
Reply Not strange. You need evidence of a potential crime to bring a charge. There is currently no charge so people need to be careful what they say and write. If you know of a crime you think someone has committed you should submit the allegation with evidence to the police.
February 5, 2026
Who instructed the police to start an investigation
February 5, 2026
Police have subsequently stated that details should be held back that might undermine a criminal trial. I cannot help wondering if they were prompted to say this as a way to allow Starmer’s original plan.
February 5, 2026
Yes that is a very peculiar statement by the Met, or at least Starmer’s account of what the Met said. As no-one has been charged there are no sub judice rules in place and no trial to prejudice and no restrictions on the press, and as the Speaker pointed out no such restrictions on Parliament as the Met didn’t contact him. Also the Met are investigating possible crimes from 15 years ago whereas the documents the Conservatives want released relate to Starmer’s decision-making process of a few months ago so where’s the overlap ?
Also a good move by Nigel Farage to suggest the EU investigate potential leaks from 2004-8 when Mandelson was a EU trade commissioner, although it appears none of the data dump covers that period so far. It is clear Mandelson most probably had been leaking both before and after the emails we currently have and that he had similar relationships with people other than Epstein. There are emails which show he frequently travelled to Russia and was less than discreet in what he got up to there, no doubt the Russians were aware, but were our own security services ?
My guess is this will run for years and will be a permanent millstone around Starmer’s neck. And John Pond.
February 5, 2026
The point of Globalism is that it is technocratic, not controlled by the democratic powers, and that it is international, a big basket with all the eggs in it.
That’s what these western Globalists like Starmer, Mandelson etc WANTED.
Now they have got it.
The USA holds 6,000 Epstein papers, they have released half. God knows what the other half contain. But the Globalised Racket is not in control because that hero Trump survived. Because that hero Putin broke the lockstep and is accused by the Globalists of betrayal.
The Globalists are being brought down by Globalism which no single entity can control any part.
The PM mixed his own poison, now he has to drink it.
February 5, 2026
The next best thing to a ‘D’ notice
February 5, 2026
Starmer asked the police to investigate. It’s the standard way lawyers use to delay and cover under sub judice. He is now saying that although the security services warned him that Mandeson was associated with Epstein, he took his word that he was only a distant aquaintance. Perhaps he was too busy as a chief public prosecutor to notice that he had a 30 year record of dodgy behaviour.
February 5, 2026
Trump will never trust Starmer’s Britain again and he is right not to.
February 5, 2026
Correct.
February 5, 2026
I don’t trust Trump either. Nor Putin. Nor EU. Nor China. Nor Labour / Lib Dems / Scottish Nationalists.
The world we live in is that probably less than 5% of politicians have even heard of the likes of Cyrus the Great. And probably less than 1% care.
Cyrus the Great is one of the very great examples from history about how to be a really great leader in both war and peace. Both. He was flawed too. But overall a heroic figure (and so thought Napoleon, Caesar, Alexander the Great, the Persians, the Jews and the Christians).
February 5, 2026
I note the Chagos deal is now said to be acceptable to Donald Trump. It would be interesting to see what occurred to change Trump’s mind.
February 5, 2026
If Trump is only interested in protecting the US, the Western threats (China and Russia) it’s trade routes then what value is a staging post to Africa and the Middle East?
February 5, 2026
In any normal times this would bring down the government but with the large majority they will tough it out.
It appears that a lot of the deep state establishment are involved and I bet there are some twitchy bums.
It would appear that parliament is infested with deviants at every level and are rich pickings for blackmailed.
Starmer is a disgrace not only for his appointment of Mandels(on ed) as ambassador but his Chagos surrender and persecution of our military.
We can’t afford 3 more years of this treacherous behaviour and a General Election should be called soon
If we had a monarch worth it’s name he would dissolve parliament immediately.
Reply The King cannot dissolve Parliament when it has a legal elected government with a majority
February 5, 2026
The obvious question, and larger, is why did Starmer appoint Mandelson, if he had a full, uncomplimentary dossier? Arrogance and incompetence, Starmer’s trademarks, don’t appear to cover this gross error. How far into the ‘political/financial aristocracy’ does this debacle go?
February 5, 2026
How far? At least as far as Blair.
February 5, 2026
All the way!
February 5, 2026
To JR
Quite so. Allegedly Major sought a dissolution because of Party problems…but was refused.
February 5, 2026
I don’t believe that.
The PM requests the dissolution of Parliament but actually it’s an instruction.
The King can’t refuse any more than he can initiate a dissolution.
February 5, 2026
Its about time Kemi called a vote of confidence
Reply That could unite them behind Starmer , Need to judge when enough Labour MPs would vote for one
February 5, 2026
Allister Heath today is surely right:-
“These are the humiliating death throes of Starmer’s sordid regime
The grotesque Mandelson scandal is an epoch-defining indictment of the Labour establishment”
Streeting or Rayner seem to be favourites in the betting odd both 4:1. After all Rayner needs more money to belatedly settle her tax bill. If they get in they make sure Ed Miliband (PPE Oxon) has nothing whatever to do with energy policy, transport policy, housing policy, industry… Streeting seems unlikely as labour leader as he is almost sensible – this despite his PPE degree.
February 5, 2026
LL,
I knew I could rely on you for a classic ‘Allister Heath is surely correct’ comment. I see you have now mastered the spelling of his first name too !
February 5, 2026
One correct spelling is surely top down socialism. What next one correct accent decreed? We even have the dire Ofcom telling broadcasters which words they may not use on air! Or forcing them not to ne honest about Covid Vaccines!
William Shakespeare’s name was spelled in dozens of different ways by contemporaries—over 80 variations exist—with no standardized spelling at the time. Notably, his own six surviving signatures are all different. But I am confident he would have said “Grass”, Draft, Daft and not Grarss… Like traffic lights and roundabouts! Freedom of choice please.
February 5, 2026
LL,
So
PPE ………………. Bad
Poor Spelling (Multiple Choice?) …. Good
Innit?
February 5, 2026
Peculiar spellings drive me mad. It’s one step away from the pronoun fiasco.
In my view you, LL have spelt his name correctly, unfortunately his parents did not.
February 5, 2026
Good grief what a choice, but I agree Streeting better then Miliband with his promises in stone, and lunatic Net Zero policies, or Rayner and Reeves who can’t even fill in their tax returns properly. !
Indeed just look at who has been taking gifts, expensive invitations, unnecessary trips abroad, Huge expense claims, or failure to understand the tax system, and who are you left with ?
Starmer should do the decent thing and resign, but he won’t, this will drag this on and on, as he seeks to hide the evidence in any legal way, or parliamentary system that he can.
What a huge embarrassment for our Country this is.
No wonder the Chinese treated Starmer with close to contempt in giving him a tour guide to visit the Square.
February 5, 2026
@Lifelogic – likely candidates? To run the Country? That party has also thinks Ed Miliband would be good PM despite what you suggest. There is no depth any where in Parliament so to use the phrase shuffling the ‘deck chairs’ would it make a difference? Top to bottom parliament, the ones that choose our government the ones that hold them to account, if you like the members of the Board of UK.plc working on our behalf don’t appear fit for purpose.
February 5, 2026
It does not matter who succeeds Starmer. The Labour Party is defunct. Burned-out.
They will not be able to do anything in the time remaining in this Parliament, the Labour MPs have recovered power and will demand action to at least give them a fighting chance at the election.
Nothing will save the Labour Party now.
February 5, 2026
@LL – From today’s media, the thinking that confirms it wont get better….
Tory grandee Sir Iain Duncan Smith waded into the debate over who could replace embattled Sir Keir Starmer as leader of the Labour Party.
He explained why “Red Ed” Miliband, known for his eco-zealot credentials and dogged determination to push through Labour’s radical green agenda, is in his view most likely to succeed Starmer.
“He’s overwhelmingly popular. But he has been behaving in this communist-type fashion, imposing rules and regulations on ordinary members of the public, making the cost of motoring higher.
“But the Labour Party members love him because this is the kind of socialism that they want, and he is doing it.
February 5, 2026
The betting odds give him only a very slim chance! Net Zero and rip off energy is, quite rightly, discredited, a con job & hugely unpopular!
February 5, 2026
I don’t believe Labour are content with either Milliband or Rayner.
If they were Starmer would be gone now.
They can’t find anybody – it might be an unknown who takes the crown….
February 5, 2026
Rayner, the marxist union leaders girl.
Heaven help us.
Unfortunately they’ll promise everything in abundance. Convince them everything is the fault of anyone who had a private education (except of course all those on the left) and the Red Wall will crawl back to them.
There is no helping some people.
Man the lifeboats, as I think it’s going to be every man/woman for themselves to vacate the sinking ship.
February 5, 2026
I have to tell you that the red wall is verrrrrryy angry. Not minded to crawl.
However the Labour MP for Consett, Liz Twist is streets ahead of the current Labour front bench. She’s knowledgable about detail, competent and likeable.
We might find that someone ignored by the front bench club comes to the fore, as Mrs T did.
February 5, 2026
The actions of a number of prominent individuals in the current Government appear to be treacherous and against the interests of the UK, not least the Prime Minister.
I watched PMQs and most of the Parliamentary debate yesterday. Two-Tier seems to be basing his “defence” on claims that Mandelson lied – so we’re supposed to believe that MI5 didn’t have a pretty good idea of the extent of his relationship with Epstein and our “oh so forensic” lawyer PM took his assurances on trust! Pull the other one.
The sight of MPs from both sides of the political divide expressing their “shock” at Mandelson’s behaviour and parading their virtue was nauseating. It’s been known for decades that ( his conduct was questionable ed) What surprised them? Did they seriously believe that ( such a man ed) man would have suddenly become a paragon of virtue.
It is even more obvious that a majority of those in the Houses of Parliaments (both Houses) are either incredibly naive, morally corrupt or are not working in the interests of the British people. I’m reminded of the Robbie Burns’ poem “Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation.”
“What force or guile could not subdue,
Thro’ many warlike ages,
Is wrought now by a coward few
For hireling traitor’s wages”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/robertburns/works/such_a_parcel_of_rogues_in_a_nation/
February 5, 2026
+1
February 5, 2026
@Donna +1
The fight against the people and the nation is embedded
February 5, 2026
Donna
I wonder if the EU will now also do some investigations on Mandelson’s past, or simply ignore any misgivings (if any occurred) as a sort of “Perks of the Job for an EU Parliamentary member”
February 5, 2026
Compared to the EU Mandelson was a model of probity.
They will want no investigations.
February 5, 2026
having had many a meal and drink on a MEP’s expense account the whole of Brussels acts like that
February 5, 2026
Someone who shares my disbelief, anger and irritation at all this pearl clutching, ‘oh what a shock’ nonsense.
For the love of God Mandelson was up to no good when he was on Blair’s payroll.
Hello out there all those in Parliament, it was in the news at the time, you can’t all be senile or in your early 20’s.
February 5, 2026
Andrew Marr “I have always liked Kier Starmer, an honourable and decent man and in politics for the right reasons – but we have entered the final stage of his premiership”.
I have never liked Andrew Marr, self described as a raving lefty while at Cambridge (English) this as he always gets almost everything wrong. Rather like all the the others at the BBC, net zero, the EU, Trump, big government, regulation, tax levels… Let us hope he is not wrong on this “final stage” prediction not that the new leader is likely to be much better! Less dishonest and less wooden though perhaps!
February 5, 2026
Starmer is honourable and decent is he ? Hmmmm. Let’s see.
February 5, 2026
Well Marr would like Starmer. Both from the same political stable and both hypocrites guzzling at the trough
February 5, 2026
Starmer is a dead man walking. The Blairites within government are destroyed. The hard left of the Labour Party membership will pick our next PM. It will most likely be Rayner or Milliband. What a Horror Show.
February 5, 2026
I’d rather they kept Starmer than appoint Miliband
February 5, 2026
Yes Glen, we may end up regretting losing Starmer – given the possible alternatives for PM currently.
February 5, 2026
Starmer met Bill Gates in 2024. Maybe he should tell us how much he regrets that too.
February 5, 2026
As ever Elon on social media is miles ahead of UK politicians and press. He is very good.
February 5, 2026
Well he has more brains than the sum of the U.K. politicians and press.
February 5, 2026
First the grooming gangs cover-up. Now the Mandelson cover-up. What is Starmer attempting to hide?
I truly hope he and his rotten excuse for a government are brought down by this.
February 5, 2026
Starmer will be replaced, on the basis that the same policies are followed as before.
I don’t much care who replaces him. They’re all a disgrace to civilised country.
February 5, 2026
Rightly a pile in on Labour but always fascinates me how political parties always put their political benefits over any kind of moral doubts/scruples/standards etc. Reeves CV, very slow disciplinary processes, parties desperately trying to prevent the loss of a seat even if whip withheld. Frankly a ‘dung heap’ compared with major corporates.
Tories hardly whiter than white. Boris, obviously not At Mandelsons level but severely flawed and surprise surprise, out they came and look where you party is now. Even worse many still wish he could come back.
February 5, 2026
Asking ‘turkeys to vote for Christmas’ is not going to happen. There is a minimum of 404 MPs that the last thing they want, but what the country wants and needs is a General Election. They are not finished with free-loading gravy train. Having to work and take responsibility frightens them.
That leaves a fudge stick with it or change the top team. Look at who is in the wings, mainly more tyrannical, more evangelical and equally clueless, all ideologically driven. Not a one, and that spreads further around about 90% of this Parliament supports the people and the nation. It’s a ‘not fit for purpose’ that has been festering in decline. Seemingly the Blair Plan which has been notch up further with each new leader and parliament.
February 5, 2026
The Wreaking Ball! – it is noted in the Media the persecution of Lucy Connolly was fast tracked by Government – to assert authority? But the PM nothing to do with me?
It is also reported that the PM has offered POTUS and the USA extra security guarantees to ensure the gravy train of the Chagos surrender goes through – the USA should believe Sir Kier Starmer?
February 5, 2026
I, and many others, ask what motivated starmer to overlook the publicly known failings of mandelson to give him such a privileged position.
I note that starmer is closely aligned with the fabian society, and now find mandelson also is closely linked to the fabian society. Having looked up the principles behind the foundation of that society I find it is devoted to implementing reform of our society towards full socialism gradually … in other words surreptitiously. Mandelson personified.
Many on the left condemn the Masons as a society that allows business members to assist and support other members. The fabian society clearly has similar traits.
February 5, 2026
Starmer has no one to blame other than himself for this one, but my guess is that he will not have the decency to go without a further damaging struggle.
February 5, 2026
Agree, Starmer is going nowhere, there’s no job for him in the EU, the UN nor the Lords ….he’s never going to volunteer his resignation, without a vote of confidence in either his party or the commons
February 5, 2026
Tories should quickly put a vote of confidence in and make it clear to labour MPs they would have a huge amount of explaining to do to their constituents if they support it.
The only reason I could see not to do this is that it may well be perceived as over politicising the Epstein papers to the detriment of the victims
Reply The danger is it would unite Labour. MOs very reluctant to bring down their own government.
February 5, 2026
Agree, the Tories as the loyal opposition should keep the pressure on
February 5, 2026
The real problem in the Labour Party is that nobody wants to be Leader in May when the Party is destroyed at the local elections.
That’s why there has not been a leadership challenge to date.
But now they will have to bury the Starmer corpse and are left with a crisis. I can’t see Reeves surviving this either, so they need a few dupes to fill the void, hold up their hands and say ‘not me Gov’. There will be no further attacks on voters and they might even ‘stop the boats’.
I wonder whether they have more than one person stupid enough to volunteer and cause a contest?
✊🏼🥳All good fun! I love watching my enemies turn on each other and tear each other apart. Of course there could be more very bad moments for Starmer personally next week! Keep an eye on the front pages!
February 5, 2026
The PM wanted to withhold certain papers for national security reasons.
Is it me???
I would say comedy gold, but I’m finding I’ve lost my sense of humour these days.
Since when has this nation, its security or its very continuation, been of any importance to such as Starmer and the even worse to come hard left that I fear will step into his shoes now.
February 5, 2026
Mandelson is just the tip of the iceberg of (questionable activities ed) running through both government and the civil service. This is why we have whole departments continually “unfit for purpose” and a series of treacherous schemes such as Net Zero, closer EU integration, mass legal and illegal immigration and Chagos. Even the government’s climate alarmist Met Office department is (subject to criticism ed). Almost 85% of all Met Office sites are not deemed acceptable for climate data reporting purposes by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and International Standards Organisation stated requirements. This is because 85% of their weather stations are in WMO classes 4 and 5 with error margins of 2 and 5 degrees C respectively. A third of the Met Office’s weather stations for which weather data is published do not even exist!
February 5, 2026
Mandleson is a convenient, very large “dead cat”. What else will the honourable and decent Starmer and his Labour gang be hiding away?
BTW, Lord Ali had full run of No. 10 – will be investigated as well?
February 5, 2026
+1
February 5, 2026
2TK’s speech –
‘He also told Labour rebels “I intend to go on”, before suggesting time “wasted” on internal party politics would make a Reform UK government all the more likely.’
Or get rid of Me and your job is on the line, its Me or the high road for all of you. The Country must not come before Me
February 5, 2026
It’s very noticeable that Blair has gone to ground.
February 5, 2026
Tweets as they were once called….
. Rachel Reeves
It cannot be one rule for Boris Johnson and Rishi
Sunak, and another for everyone else.
They’ve broken the rules, they’ve lied to the
British people – they both have to go.
Keir Starmer • 12/04/2022
Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have broken the law
and repeatedly lied to the British public.
They must both resign….
14:07 • 12/04/2022
February 5, 2026
From Guido
Starmer accepted a special job for Labour in 2013 to chair a party taskforce on how to change the rights of sexual abuse victims so the victim is always believed
https://order-order.com/2026/02/05/mandelson-ally-starmer-chaired-labour-taskforce-on-believing-sexual-abuse-victims/
More double standards, more TwoTierKier
Although the comments sections tells it better
February 5, 2026
Two things of note :-
The hypocritical chant from labour MPs now stating that they’ve always disliked Mandleson and …
Why has no one from the media, when questioning Starmer, asked about the ‘top secret’ positive vetting from the security services, and did number 10 overrule them
February 5, 2026
That is what Starmer admitted under questioning from Badenoch in the House.
February 5, 2026
The question is how could such a horrible and disgraceful person as Mandelson stay at the top of the Labour Party for over 30 years. It tells you everything about their standards and morals. By appointing Mandelson as American Ambassador, the PM showed apalling judgement. He did not need an up to date security check on the man to know he was utterly untrustworthy.
February 5, 2026
Keith
Absolutely no excuses, but perhaps the reason for the appointment of Mandelson was because he thought there was no one else in the Labour Party who would be able to match Trumps negotiation style.
Lets face it, there is absolutely no one on the front benches in the Labour Party who has had any sort of commercial knowledge/experience at all he could call on.
Starmer certainly does not even have a clue himself, as can be seen by the recent give aways of out fish and Chagos.
What a farce our Government has become, not a self made man or woman amongst them who has not been funded or helped by the State in some way, yet they hammer those who have with ever increasing taxes.
February 5, 2026
There are professional Ambassadors, Diplomats. You don’t normally appoint a Party stalwart or a politician.
The Ambassador is not there to negotiate with the President. He is there to represent the U.K. and to convey the opinion of the country he is assigned to, to the U.K. Government.
February 6, 2026
Lynn
You are correct, but negotiation skills are what we are led to believe, was the reason for this particular appointment.
February 7, 2026
Well that’s what Farage said. He was enthusiastic about the ‘brilliance of Mandelson’ and convinced he would make a wonderful US Ambassador.
None of us would have fallen for that line.
Who would put up an Ambassador to out-negotiate the US President? If we could do that we would not need a PM.
February 5, 2026
His judgement on Mandelson tells you that our PM, Starmer, is utterly useless. His acceptance of a third rate Chancellor and a completely unbalanced nutcase as Energy Minister also tells you his judgement of people he actually should know all about is useless as well.
A Man with any integrity, humility and honesty would look at the mess he has made and resign. But, of course, Stamer lacks any of those qualities so he won’t.
February 5, 2026
In our electoral system, the rewards go to those who tell the sweetest lies.
Men and women of integrity don’t get anywhere unless they are also possessed of cunning.
February 7, 2026
That’s a new situation, has occurred because the Party Machines select the candidates.
Before that for 800 years we had overwhelmingly Brilliant and Honourable people in Parliament.
February 5, 2026
Why should voters have to suffer the consequences of such pathetic and inadequate people?
His judgement on Mandelson tells you that our PM, Starmer, is utterly useless. His acceptance of a third rate Chancellor and a completely unbalanced ( ideologue for net zero. ed)as Energy Minister also tells you his judgement of people he actually should know all about is useless as well.
A Man with any integrity, humility and honesty would look at the mess he has made and resign. But, of course, Stamer lacks any of those qualities so he won’t.
February 5, 2026
We need a change in the way we do things and voting by proportional representation might be a start. Next thing is we need to reduce the numbers in the Lords by half and put a cap also introduce a peoples voting system for the Lords with no more appointees by Government or political parties.
February 5, 2026
Off Topic.
The refurbishment of the Houses of Parliament could cost almost £40bn and take 61 years, under proposals presented to MPs and peers. It’s one option presented by the team working on the long-delayed restoration of the historic building, which is falling apart and costs £1.5m a week to maintain.
The team has also suggested moving MPs and peers out of the Palace of Westminster for up to 24 years from 2032, under a refurbishment plan that could cost as much as £15.6bn.
MPs and peers will debate and vote on the plan to develop these two options and the completion of initial works.
Unbelievably stupid options. Just find or build an alternative starting ASAP at a sensible location like Birmingham Manchester Sheffield Bristol. Housing a maximum of 300 Commons MPs and 200 peers forcing restructuring both.
February 5, 2026
On the face of it Starmers climb down in agreeing that the potentially controversial communications be vetted by the security committee will allow an open and honest review of the mandelson affair.
However, having learned that Starmer has the power to select the committee I now am concerned that the truth can still be covered up.
I hope I worry unnecessarily.
February 5, 2026
The membership of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (not a select committee but a cross-party statutory one) was nominated in July 2024 by the PM after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition and should remain the same till the next General Election.
Its nine members are: Lord Beamish (chair, Lab), Baroness Brown (cross-bencher), P.Dowd MP (Lab), R.Foord MP (LidDem), Sir J.Haynes MP (Con), J.Morden MP (Lab), Sir J.Wright MP (Con), D.Twigg MP (Lab), Adm.Lord West (Lab).
Reply John Hayes
February 5, 2026
He could always become a newly devoted Roman Catholic
February 5, 2026
It seems most unlikely that Starmer will survive as PM longer than the next few weeks, let along the local elections. But who will replace him ? The choice is severely limited, and in terms of policy, every likely candidate other than Streeting is going to be more to the left than Starmer and will trash the economy, especially the
Private sector that has to pay for Labour’s prolific spending.
We have had lots of examples of a change of Prime Minister without a general election but we have never had a change of PM where the new person had previously been comprehensively rejected by the electorate.
To my mind that should eliminate Miliband and Corbyn from consideration.