Mandelson scandal shakes Starmer's stability pledge

LONDON:

Prime Minister Keir Starmer came to power on a promise to govern Britain efficiently after years of political turmoil. Less than two years later, accusations that his office forced through a key appointment have shattered that image of competence.

Embroiled in a scandal over his decision to appoint Labour Party veteran Peter Mandelson to Britain's top diplomatic post as ambassador to the United States, Starmer's grip on power appears to be slipping and his leadership skills are in question.

Starmer's office denies allegations made by Britain's former top ?foreign ministry official, Olly Robbins, that it put pressure on his team to accelerate Mandelson's appointment last year.

But Robbins' testimony to a parliamentary committee on Tuesday, days after he was sacked, has exposed what Starmer's opponents say is a lack of political instinct and intensified critics' doubts about how he runs his office.

Three people close to his Downing Street operation told Reuters there had been an over-reliance on a small group of trusted advisers that meant Starmer, who once vowed to "end the chaos of sleaze", had been blindsided by outside events and become detached from his party and the public.

"Starmer presented himself as if he was going to be holier-than-thou and at least competent," Chris Hopkins, political research director at polling firm Savanta, told Reuters.

"When you lose what are your main selling points, you don't have much left."

Constant pressure over appointment

Starmer appointed Mandelson, 72, who served as a minister when Labour was last in power more than 15 years ago, in late 2024, hailing his "unrivalled experience to the role".

He sacked him last September after a trove of emails revealed the depth of Mandelson's ties with the late convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. British police arrested Mandelson in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, but he has not been charged. He does not face allegations of sexual misconduct.

While Starmer may have hoped sacking Mandelson marked the end of the political saga, last week he said information had come to light that a vetting body had advised against the appointment in the first place.

Robbins confirmed on Tuesday that Starmer had not been told about the vetting advice. But he said Downing Street had conveyed "a very, very strong expectation" that Mandelson should be appointed quickly.