Labour Leadership in Peril as Mandelson Saga Intensifies
Sir Keir Starmer has been branded "weak, naive and gullible" for his handling of the escalating crisis surrounding Peter Mandelson, with a senior Labour figure warning it could ultimately bring down his premiership. The stark assessment comes from the party's former deputy leader, Baroness Harriet Harman, who has issued a dire prediction about the prime minister's political future.
Harman's Stern Warning on Electoral Dysfunction Podcast
Speaking to Sky News' Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Baroness Harman declared the situation had become "so serious" for the prime minister that he faces being toppled "unless he takes action." Her intervention adds to mounting pressure on Sir Keir to fundamentally reshape his Number 10 operation in response to the damaging scandal.
Baroness Harman told Sky's political editor Beth Rigby that the prime minister should be "thinking about a real reset" within his inner circle. She questioned his judgement in appointing Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States despite known concerns about his record and associations with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Starmer's Controversial Response in Hastings Speech
The crisis reached new heights on Thursday when Sir Keir addressed the situation during a speech in Hastings. The prime minister apologised to Epstein's victims for believing what he described as Mandelson's "lies" about his relationship with the disgraced financier.
However, Baroness Harman criticised this approach, stating: "He's got to stop blaming Mandelson and saying, 'he lied to me'. Because, actually, he should never have been considering him in the first place." She argued that this defence makes the prime minister appear "weak and naive and gullible," describing it as "completely the wrong thing."
Recalling Mandelson's political nickname, she added: "Peter Mandelson was called the Prince of Darkness. It's not a secret that he was a bad person." The former deputy leader emphasised that the controversy strikes at the heart of governmental values, making it particularly damaging for Sir Keir's leadership.
Mounting Pressure from Within Labour Ranks
Internal discontent continues to grow, with some Labour MPs believing Sir Keir's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, must be removed from his position. The prime minister has suggested McSweeney remains secure in his role, while criticising those contributing to leadership speculation as inadvertently assisting political opponents.
Nevertheless, numerous Labour MPs have privately expressed diminishing confidence in the prime minister's team. Several prominent figures, including former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and Barry Gardiner, have publicly suggested Sir Keir should consider his position.
Veteran Labour backbencher Graham Stringer told Sky News he doubts Sir Keir has "a very long future" as prime minister, characterising the retreat over Mandelson documents as a "fiasco too far." He explained: "You always blame the person at the top, the prime minister. He got his tone wrong. He got the details wrong."
Mr Stringer revealed the prevailing mood among parliamentary colleagues: "The discussion you could ask virtually any Labour MP is, it's when and who, not whether [the PM goes]."
Political Fallout and Document Controversy
Lord Mandelson, a senior figure in Tony Blair's New Labour government who was forced to resign from two ministerial posts amid previous scandals, was appointed by Sir Keir in early 2025 to cultivate positive relations with the Trump administration. His tenure ended abruptly in September when he appeared in Epstein-related files and photographs released by a US Congressional committee.
The controversy has intensified with the recent release of three million documents by the US Department of Justice. Documents concerning Mandelson's Washington appointment will be published following a Conservative motion passed on Wednesday night, though files deemed potentially damaging to national security or international relations must first undergo review by parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee, which has established no specific timetable.
Further complications arise from an ongoing criminal investigation into Lord Mandelson regarding allegations he leaked market-sensitive information to Epstein, potentially delaying document publication.
Opposition Calls and Public Sentiment
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have both called for a vote of confidence in the prime minister. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir of a "catastrophic error of judgement" and suggested either the prime minister or Mr McSweeney should accept responsibility, indicating one should resign.
New polling data from YouGov reveals significant public dissatisfaction, with 50% of Britons believing the prime minister should stand down. Only 24% want him to remain in post, while 26% expressed uncertainty. YouGov's Peter English noted the Mandelson story has "cut through" to the public, with 95% awareness and 44% following developments closely.
Mr English observed: "This [the Mandelson story] is dominating the news cycle. People are paying attention. And the Mandelson thing specifically, it is definitely cutting through." However, he cautioned that single stories rarely substantially shift public opinion.
Succession Speculation and Future Prospects
Amid the turmoil, attention has turned to potential successors, with former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and Health Secretary Wes Streeting widely regarded as the most likely candidates to replace Sir Keir should he depart. Allies of both figures insist they have no intention of challenging the prime minister's position.
As the crisis continues to unfold, Sir Keir faces the formidable challenge of stabilising his leadership while addressing fundamental questions about judgement and governance that threaten to define his premiership.
