Keir Starmer's former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, appeared before the foreign affairs select committee on 28 April 2026, adding another layer to the ongoing saga surrounding Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the US. The hearings, now in their second week, have become a procedural marathon that critics argue distracts from pressing national issues.
A PM in His Happy Place
Starmer seems to believe he can do no wrong, but the Mandy-mania hearings suggest otherwise. Bereft of big ideas or policies, the prime minister finds solace in endless parliamentary procedures. As one commentator noted, it is a shame procedural rows are not a path to economic growth; otherwise, the UK would be a global unicorn.
The Committee Circus
The foreign affairs select committee, chaired by Emily Thornberry, heard evidence from McSweeney and former Foreign Office permanent secretary Philip Barton. Thornberry has been criticized for pre-empting witness testimony, having already claimed that former FO permanent secretary Olly Robbins was bullied into approving Mandelson's appointment—a claim Robbins himself did not support. Thornberry's running commentary has led to questions about her impartiality.
McSweeney described the emergence of photos and emails linking Mandelson to Jeffrey Epstein as like a knife through his soul. Barton expressed doubts about the appointment, citing potential political difficulties in the US. Meanwhile, former FO security head Ian Collard submitted written evidence backing Robbins's version of events, further complicating the narrative.
Waste of Energy?
The hearings have become a massive distraction, with conclusions likely limited to the obvious need for proper vetting. The decision to sack Robbins—a kneejerk reaction—has backfired, damaging relations between the government and civil servants. Starmer's fundamentalist belief in his own probity remains unshaken, despite mounting evidence of poor judgment.
With local elections approaching, the saga has exposed deep flaws in Starmer's leadership. The sole beneficiaries are foreign unfriendly states, while the British political class appears exhausted and directionless.
