Starmer was forced to sack the Labour peer just seven months after he took up his post in Washington over his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The high-profile resignation of Angela Rayner last week, and the sacking of Mandelson – both considered avoidable scandals – have completely overshadowed the Prime Minister’s reset as Parliament returned after the summer recess.
MPs and senior members of the Labour movement were blaming Starmer and what they see as a Blairite faction inside No10 for ignoring repeated warnings over Mandelson’s links to Epstein and the potential political damage it could cause.
In a startling shot across the bows, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s new Mainstream movement said the Mandelson controversy showed the Prime Minister was running a “narrow and brittle political project”.
A Labour MP agreed, adding: “I think it means he needs better advisors and he needs to then listen to that advice.”
Lord Mandelson was considered instrumental in smoothing the UK’s relationship with Donald Trump (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)It has prompted loyalist MPs from the new 2024 intake to raise doubts over the Prime Minister’s future, with one MP telling The i Paper: “Even some of the sensible ’24-ers are saying it’s curtains for Keir.”
“It’s another example of his political judgment being shown wanting. It’s just incredibly frustrating. Every day it’s another thing,” the MP added.
A senior party insider added: “This outcome was inevitable and foreseeable. The fact that Keir Starmer didn’t know this when he appointed Lord Mandelson is troubling.
“That’s the question that will cause Keir Starmer the biggest problem.”
Questions over what Starmer knew and when
Revelations of Mandelson’s close relationship with the convicted paedophile Jefrrey Epstein emerged this week.The Prime Minister is also now facing questions as to what he knew about the former UK ambassador when he publicly backed him less than 24 hours before he removed from post.
The emails were dated the day before he began his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008.
Downing Street said the emails showed “the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment”.
The timing of his sacking causes a diplomatic headache ahead of Donald Trump’s state visit next week, with the US president facing questions over his own ties with Epstein.
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Read MoreThe i Paper understands the Foreign Office repeatedly refused requests from the Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by Emily Thornberry, to conduct a pre-appointment hearing with Mandelson, raising another potential failing in his vetting.
In a letter to embassy staff Mandelson expressed regret about his association with Epstein.
“I have no alternative to accepting the Prime Minister’s decision and will leave a position in which I have been so incredibly honoured to serve.
“The relationship between Britain and the United States of America is a unique one. I know that you will continue to serve and deepen that relationship from DC right across our brilliant network.”
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