Guardian UK Politics
Starmer is facing his judgment day over Mandelson missteps
Keir Starmer faces a critical reckoning with MPs over his handling of Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador, after revelations that the Prime Minister was apparently kept in the dark about a vetting failure. The episode has drawn widespread disbelief across Westminster, with accusations that Starmer dismissed a senior civil servant to protect his own position. The affair has reinforced a damaging narrative that the Prime Minister lacks firm grip over his own government.
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Starmer will not be swayed by Trump’s ‘small and petty’ insults, says Lammy
Keir Starmer will not be rattled by Donald Trump's social media attacks, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy dismissing the barbs as "small and petty" pressure tactics aimed at shifting Britain's stance on Iran. The UK is holding firm against joining any military conflict with Tehran, regardless of the trans-Atlantic friction. Lammy called on Trump to engage in diplomacy with allies rather than resorting to public attacks he described as sometimes "incomprehensible."
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Judgment day as Starmer faces Commons showdown over Mandelson scandal
Keir Starmer faces a defining moment in the Commons as he attempts to explain how Peter Mandelson bypassed standard vetting procedures to become UK ambassador to Washington. The controversy has rattled his own government, with fears mounting that the scandal could fatally undermine his leadership. How Starmer accounts for the Foreign Office's decision to override established protocols will determine whether he can draw a line under the affair.
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Starmer faces Commons showdown over Mandelson vetting scandal
Keir Starmer faces a critical moment in the Commons as he attempts to explain how Peter Mandelson was appointed UK ambassador to the US despite the Foreign Office overruling standard vetting procedures. Senior government figures privately fear the fallout could prove fatal to Starmer's leadership. The statement represents one of the most significant tests of his premiership to date.
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Starmer expected to lead Labour into next election, says minister, but warns there are ‘no certainties’ amid Mandelson scandal – UK politics live
Keir Starmer is expected to lead Labour into the next general election, according to minister Douglas Alexander, though he acknowledged uncertainty as the Prime Minister faces a Commons reckoning over the Peter Mandelson scandal. Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has escalated his party's immigration rhetoric, pledging to deport hundreds of thousands of people who have already been granted asylum in the UK. The twin developments underscore a turbulent week in British politics, with pressure mounting on both the government and the opposition from different directions.
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