Starmer will survive the Mandelson vetting scandal — but not for long
Starmer will survive the Mandelson vetting scandal — but not for long
David MaddoxMon, April 20, 2026 at 8:43 AM UTC
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When Keir Starmer gets to his feet on Monday to explain the latest debacle in his premiership, many will be wondering how many more political lives he has left before he finally has to stand down.
The more pertinent question may be how many more lives (and careers) of his subordinates will be sacrificed as part of what looks like Starmer’s increasingly inevitable demise.
So far, during his nearly two year premiership, he has lost two chiefs of staff, two cabinet secretaries, four directors of communications, several ministers - and even more advisers - as he fights to stay in Downing Street.
Starmer once criticised Boris Johnson for “blaming everyone else” and insisted he would never make others take the rap for his mistakes. But each time there is a make or break moment for this prime minister, the burden appears to fall on someone else, who ultimately ends up leaving their job.
Sir Keir Starmer has been defended by government ministers (PA) (PA Wire)
In many ways, the Peter Mandelson scandal should have finished Starmer off already. He appointed a man who was known to have links to a convicted paedophile, as well as business ties to China - and who had also been sacked twice over impropriety - to the most important diplomatic role the UK offers.
The potential problems tied to employing Mandelson as ambassador to the US did not even require security vetting - just a simple Google search - and throw Starmer’s political judgment into question.
But, while Starmer is still standing, the scandal has triggered the resignation of his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, the sudden exit of his fourth director of communications Tim Allan, the ousting of cabinet secretary Sir Christopher Wormald - and now the controversial sacking of the Foreign Office’s permanent secretary Sir Olly Robbins.
What also links these four men is that they were all also appointed and chosen by Sir Keir himself.
Sir Olly Robbins was ousted over the Mandelson vetting scandal (Dominic Lipinski/PA) (PA Archive)
Many people are also questioning the prime minister’s claim that he was not told about the Mandelson vetting issues. But, if he really wasn’t aware, it raises further questions about why he didn’t
Ministers like Liz Kendall, the tech secretary, who were sent out to bat for him over the weekend, are partly doing so because they know he is the only prime minister who would keep them in a ministerial job.
It was also part of the reason the cabinet ministers all panicked and rushed to his defence when Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for him to quit earlier this year. They were all busy saving their own jobs.
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But the harsh truth about the Labour Party is that it is its MPs, and not Sir Keir himself, who are to blame for him still being in office.
The same problems of their dysfunctionality, which have been true since they won a massive majority in July 2024, have not gone away and are why the PM will likely get through this week and ultimately survive yet another scandal involving Mandelson and his personal decision to hire him.
It is why Starmer survived the welfare rebellion, the jury trial rebellions, the various U-turns and the winter fuel payment debacle - nobody in Labour is clear who would succeed him.
Andy Burnham is not in parliament so, although he may well be plotting with Angela Rayner, he cannot become leader while he is Greater Manchester mayor.
Ms Rayner is the frontrunner but still is overshadowed by her tax issues. Energy secretary Ed Miliband already failed once as Labour leader.
And while home secretary Shabana Mahmood and health secretary Wes Streeting both have fine qualities, they are both considered “far right” within Labour and detested by large swathes of the membership.
It means that, regardless of what the PM says to MPs on Monday about Mandelson, and whatever Sir Olly says about the issue at the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Starmer will limp through.
The crunch point, though, is the 7 May elections - a date circled in red now for almost a year. Labour are set to lose as many as 1,500 English council seats, while falling to a potential third place in both Wales and Scotland - while also being wiped out in London.
In the wreckage that follows the decision cannot be put off any further - Labour MPs will have to make up their minds.
They will either have to force Starmer out - knowing he is damaged goods and is losing popularity with the public - and take a chance on a new leader. Or they will have to let him stay in the knowledge he will probably lead them into the next election in 2029.
Starmer may not have days left of his premiership, but it is very possible we are in his final weeks.
Source: “AOL Breaking”
