As I noted earlier this morning, Mandelson was bound to be sacked as US Ambassador very shortly. He went sooner than I expected, having just been sacked as I write.
Now, though, this from the Telegraph is pertinent:
Labour MP asks for inquiry into Lord Mandelson appointment process
A Labour MP has asked for an inquiry into the appointment process of Lord Mandelson.
Andy McDonald asked in the Commons: “Clearly the appointment process didn't pick up these issues, that's self-evident. So can we have an assurance that there will be an enquiry into why that wasn't the case?”
Foreign minister Stephen Doughty replied: “Any candidates for ambassador positions are subject to routine extensive vetting and background checks as a matter of course.”
The decision for Lord Mandelson to resign was taken by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, Foreign minister Stephen Doughty confirmed.
Let me be blunt about this. It is impossible to believe that issues around Epstein were not reported when Mandelson was considered for this post.
There is no chance whatsoever that Starmer was not aware of the issues that have now become public, or that he should have been if he claims he was not.
So, how and why was it that Starmer appointed Mandelson as the UK ambassador to the USA?
Was it precisely because he knew Trump, through Epstein?
Was it also because, like Starmer, he has an inclination to Zionism?
Was it also because, like Starmer, he cannot see the harm in Trump's right-wing agenda?
Or was there something else, even deeper and more sinister?
The demand for an inquiry, and one that will report within weeks at most, should be supported by everyone. We have a prime minister who is so obviously out of his depth, or so obviously corrupt, that we need to know which it is.
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Have you read George Monbiot’s article in the Guardian today – I think it explains a lot! https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/sep/11/tories-rightwing-junktanks-no-10-government-civil-servants
It is very good, and also shocking. What the heck are Labour doing using these people?
You know full well why Labour are using these people, Richard, as does anyone who regularly follows your blog: Because Starmer’s “Labour” isn’t the Labour Party that this country has grown up with for decades, and it certainly isn’t a LABOUR party in any sense of the meaning of that word.
I’ve mentioned this before in comments, but when I first heard the term “blue Labour” bandied about, and that Morgan McSweeney was of this ilk, my immediate thought was, ‘This is a joke.’ But it wasn’t and it isn’t, despite the fact that in the UK (and many other countries) blue is not a colour that can ever be associated with a political party whose history lies with, and emerges from, the struggles of labour.
So, the fact that this government is dominated by a faction which sees no issue in labeling itself blue tells us all we need to know about the government we have: It’s Labour in name only. It is, in fact, a Conservative government of the type and outlook akin to that of Cameron and Osborne. And, it would seem that most (so called) Labour MPs are more than happy enough with that.
Furthermore, if you start from recognition of this FACT, then the kind of behaviour that George Monbiot details with regard to right wing personnel advising Labour, is no surprise at all. Nor is Starmer’s bending over backwards for Trump, or his support of the extreme right in Israel, and on and on.
Sadly, for most of the population of the UK who expected a Labour government (whether you voted Labour or not), when they voted last year, I can see nothing that indicates we can now escape the charade we’re now living through. Meanwhile, people’s faith and trust in politics is
further undermined, and their belief that our only salvation lies in the tyranny that will come with Farage increases.
But ultimately, why should those of a neoliberal bent be concerned. The default position when neoliberalsim failed was always going to be authoritarianism of one form or another. and that’s where we’re headed.
I great deal to agree with.
Blue Labour was a con.
Red Tories were a charade to provide it with cover.
Both were created by small-minded thinkers who couldn’t recognise a pasty in Greggs.
Just parked at a station where a poster says “SEE IT. SAY IT. SORTED.”
Well, we’ve seen it, we’ve said it. Why hasn’t it been sorted?
🙂
How many times do I have to write this: the keys to Number 10 are held by the Single Transferable Party. The Tufton Street crew are the gatekeeper in Macbeth (Act 2, Scene 3):
“Here’s a knocking indeed! If a man were
porter of hell gate, he should have old turning the
key. (Knock.) Knock, knock, knock! Who’s there, i’
th’ name of Beelzebub? Here’s a farmer that hanged
himself on th’ expectation of plenty. Come in time!
Have napkins enough about you; here you’ll sweat
for ’t. (Knock.) Knock, knock! Who’s there, in th’
other devil’s name? Faith, here’s an equivocator
that could swear in both the scales against either
scale, who committed treason enough for God’s
sake yet could not equivocate to heaven. O, come in,
equivocator. (Knock.) Knock, knock, knock! Who’s
there? Faith, here’s an English tailor come hither for
stealing out of a French hose. Come in, tailor. Here
you may roast your goose. (Knock.) Knock, knock!
Never at quiet.—What are you?—But this place is
too cold for hell. I’ll devil-porter it no further. I had
thought to have let in some of all professions that go
the primrose way to th’ everlasting bonfire. (Knock.)
Anon, anon!
“
Rayner has gone. Half the Cabinet has gone. Mandelson has gone.
Starmer is still there.
Something is wrong. What could it be?
Perhaps these are the ‘changes’ Starmer keeps referring to?
Who the hell is advising Starmer?
Maybe its the same forces that Corbyn was exposed to?
Naughty – we all know who you mean.
I used to exchange e-mails with Max Hastings from time to time – I could never understand why he was editor of the Telegraph (he was/is +/- a one nation tory) – but he could see a bad-un a mile off – we all forget how Mandelson was booted out of gov’ TWICE with Mandelsohn phoning Hastings to have a story pulled that cast him in a very very negative light – (didn’t work).
Mandelson is a pathetic, weak, easily manipulated man. This is evident wrt Epstein – who was very rich, very powerful & very manipulative – everything Mandelson could never be – only a cretin would have appointed him as ambassador .. oh hang on………
I agree that Mandelson is a weak man. A wannabe billionaire with all the lack of character this entails. But his primary contact was Ghislaine Maxwell, not Epstein. The latter can thank Maxwell for both his contacts and his wealth and probably her contacts for his death If you then remember who Ghislaine’s father was and join the historical and financial dots, and Blair’s New Labour leadership extraordinary rise to millionaire status, it is really not that difficult to understand why Mandelson continues to practise criminal corruption in high places with no consequence. Serendipitously there is an article over on European Powell’s substack regarding Mandelson’s brokering of funding from Qatar to expidite the Single Transferable Party’s selling off of Britain through its SEZs and Freeports global corporate plunder scam.
Well said Richard – I too was suprised at the swiftness of this.
He and Starmer belong in the political wilderness.
Has there ever been an utter puppet of a prime minister?
The lies, the lack of accountability, the smudging of just about every issue?
There are clearly some less-than-competent people around Starmer who need to go.
For example, there is evidence that some Tufton St “experts” are teaching Downing St staff about economics – doesn’t that explain a lot?
We need a thorough clear out of those who are vulnerable to pressure from lobbyists.
If Starmer can’t do that, he has to go, and be replaced by someone with a bit more insight into just what sort of “change” the UK population voted for last year.
Put to public opinion I’m sure that Mandelson would now be stripped of his title. Under existing legislation it’s not that easy. At that last Labour must withdraw the Whip in the House of Lords. Immediately.
What more to emerge? Let’s get out the popcorn!
I bet Labour will not withdraw the Whip. Tony Blair won’t like that.
Mentioning MP’s and whips, Reminds me of when the news about Cynthia Paine first came out, and we all thought “So what a brothel in Streatham” then her client list started to appear, and Luncheon Vouchers became a part of the Zeitgeist.
I am wondering how many more politico’s have connections to this mess…
I remember that.
St. Reatham has moved up market since then.
Blimey, my Dad was giving me his Luncheon Vouchers at that time (he preferred a liquid lunch). I, as an innocent young man and knowing no better, was spending them on sandwiches.
🙂
“So, how and why was it that Starmer appointed Mandelson as the UK ambassador to the USA?”
Mandelson was appointed solely as a *pacifier to entertain Trump.
*I am referring to an infant dummy!!! The infant dummy keeps a baby preoccupied to not cause a tantrum and other chaos
🙂
Mandelson was damaged goods right from the start. Unbelievable that he was ever offered a job in the first place.
And Starmer is damaged goods now.
Even England football fans are booing him
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/sep/10/england-fans-chants-cast-keir-starmer-as-first-prime-minister-to-become-the-enemy
He deserves it
I am waiting for Arsenal fans to do so.
Didn’t Starmer say he’d rather sit next to Piers Morgan than Jeremy Corbyn at an Arsenal match?
I wonder if that will come back to bite him.
Excellent article here by Prem.
https://leftfootforward.org/2025/09/why-the-reshuffle-alone-wont-change-the-governments-fortunes/
In politics, as soon as you clear the decks of the sycophants who got you there, you start to look very isolated.
MI5 laying the blame at No.10 – how long for Starmer https://news.sky.com/story/no-10-appointed-mandelson-despite-security-concerns-sky-news-understands-13428814
As I suspected would happen…
It’s all down to Starmner – and Tony Blair in the background
Is Starmer actually listening to Tony Blair????
Yes
I thought there was some hope of redemption for the Labour Party, but sadly I now see none. They will have to be swept away, probably with a forced GE in 2027 as predicted by ‘snake-oil’ Nigel. He will probably have to get to strut his hour on the stage, before he too is booed off and has to go.
What comes after that? I really cannot see any progress, just a further descent into authoritarianism. There are no shortage of puppets waiting to dance to their master’s control.
I don’t know if this is serious – reporters generally don’t make things up, despite what many think – but George Osborne is in the running to replace Mandelson. He was on the shortlist last time too.
What??????????
He is good friends with Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper
I am reminded of the saying about lawyers who know everything about the letter of the law, but nothing of the spirit.
Starmer seems to be one of those lawyers.
🙂
This is why I wish all the thousands who left Labour would have stayed to try to win it back from the Starmer extremist faction.
If Starmer goes now – there is little chance of Labour retreating back from the far right mind set its got itself in.
It’s utterly dependent on dark money and not members subscriptions. It will still be a sort of mafia – but the McSweeney godfather will still be there.
What a mess.
Andrew, we left because we saw there was no chance of Labour ever being anything other than another right of centre capitalist party.
In retrospect, Corbyn could never have succeeded, even if he had won in 2019, because the party was full of Blairite MPs and Blairites infested the party machinery – both these groups in direct opposition to Corbyn and the majority of the membership.
And, sadly, Corbyn proved weak in many respects – bowing to the zionist faction, for example. I suppose what Labour really needed was someone who combined the best qualities of Corbyn and George Galloway (the latter’s ability to take on any opposition and trample them into the dust) .
But that’s all past, and Labour is on a fast track for the dustbin of history, lets not shed any tears.
The fledgling ‘Your Party’ is the one we should concentrate on now (although I wouldn’t wish for Corbyn to be leader). At the moment its the best – only ? – chance for all those of us who are politically disenfranchised.
It doesn’t say much for democracy UK-style that – 2017 and 2019 apart – I’ve spent a lifetime voting for the least-worst option.
Mandleson somehow missed the security of MI5 and called Trump reckless and racist? . I believe others had a different view of his appointment!
Robert Peston, no less, quite outspoken on ITV News at ten last night. Suggesting Starmer utterly out of his depth, and reliant on dodgy advisers like Mandelson and McSweeney. Significant?
What do we really know about McSweeney…?
McSweeney worked with Mandelson when he first went into politics.
He was later working for Hope not Hate, which I find hard to believe.
When he was director of Labour Together, my MP Luke Akehurst was director of Labour to Win and Labour First. They worked together to get rid of Jeremy Corbyn.
https://www.declassifieduk.org/morgan-mcsweeney-plot-without-precedent-in-labour-history/