How long can Starmer survive? Getting popcorn ready 🍿🍿

It seems unbelievable that a supposedly intelligent man would appoint someone with Mandelson's reputation. It seems silly to say Mandelson lied - what else would you expect him to do?

This isn’t the time for an election within the Labour Party, too much going on in the wider world and the U.K. needs a steady hand on the tiller.

Saying that the Mandelson issue is not going anywhere soon, it’s obvious that he was appointed as ambassador despite KS being informed by a FT journalist about his close links with Epstein.

Either KS is being swayed by someone else, or he is not good a making judgements in the UK’s best interests.

Swayed by his advisors, who haven’t done a great job so far🙈

So should he still be the one doing it. But who would be caoable out of his probable successors?

This feels much more like political theatre than analysis.

On the facts: Starmer has acknowledged that he knew Mandelson had some contact with Epstein after 2008, but has said he did not know the extent of that relationship. When further information came to light, Mandelson was removed from his role and there is now cross-party pressure to release relevant files through proper parliamentary processes. That’s not stonewalling; it’s corrective action under scrutiny.

As for “he has to release everything he knows”, no Prime Minister can unilaterally dump intelligence or diplomatic material without legal and security constraints. That applies regardless of party.

The idea that Badenoch “roasted” him or that ministers “couldn’t look at him” is subjective performance commentary, not evidence of political collapse. PMQs is designed to generate clips, not sober judgment. Leaders have looked far worse in that chamber and survived far longer.

On Angela Rayner, again, there’s a lot of mind-reading going on. She dealt with her tax issue by referring herself to the appropriate processes and stepping back from roles, which is precisely what critics usually demand. There’s no evidence she’s “waiting to stab him in the back” beyond forum fantasy.

If you can criticise Starmer’s judgment on Mandelson without turning it into a soap opera about imminent coups and personal betrayal it might be worth discussing. However, thd truth is that politics is messy, but not every controversy is a death spiral.

Sorry! My post in reply to the OP.

Well said, DAR.

I hope Starmer stays around as pm for a while longer. The alternatives don’t look any better. Starmer might evolve into a stronger leader? Give him a bit longer?

DaisyAnneReturns unfortunately you are trying to defend the indefensible.

It was known that PM stayed in Epstein’s Manhattan home whilst Epstein was in jail for paedphilia. If that didn’t send a great big warning to KS than he really is a proverbial ostrich with his head in the sand

PM had already disgraced himself twice before and been sacked from a Labour Government, I interview and employ people, I wouldn’t have touched Mandelson with a barge pole!

Doodledog

Well said, DAR.

Well said from me too.

We’re not in the Oxford Union debating chamber ( well, some posters may be in their heads)😁
We don’t know what will happen but Starmer was doing badly on all fronts up to now so this may be the final nail in his political coffin.He has shown poor judgement on many things and it looks as if he’s allowed himself to be swayed by at least one of his advisors on appointing Mandelson to the US prestigious post.There were quite a few gasps of horror at the time about it.

ronib

I hope Starmer stays around as pm for a while longer. The alternatives don’t look any better. Starmer might evolve into a stronger leader? Give him a bit longer?

To cause more damage to the Labour Party? No thanks.

Ministers didn’t look at him at PMQ’s yesterday, their set expressions said it all, not even a murmur of support.

I am not thinking of the Labour Party. There’s a country to run and there’s no benefit if the extreme left wing pounce. Stay with what we have for now is better for the average person. Oreo.

I'm not gloating with my popcorn. I'm sad and afraid.

Every PM faces various storms and even scandals regarding other Ministers etc., sadly our parliament has become increasingly like the senate in Ancient Rome with knives out at every juncture. And Kemi would do well to remember the storms and scandals weathered by the last Tory PMs which resulted in revolving doors with regard to Tory leaders.
This is no good for the country which needs a strong and stable government, and less shit stirrers in the wings adding fuel to the rumour mill with regard to a leadership challenge.
This may not be a very strong or stable government but democracy dictates we stick with it for now. So perhaps we should do just that.

But, with Mandelson's reputation why on earth would anyone with sound judgement appointment him?

And is a man with such flawed judgment capable of running the country in these difficult times?

And, who appointed his advisors?

sixandahalf

I'm not gloating with my popcorn. I'm sad and afraid.

Quite!

I think this is where judgement and analysis start to diverge. People can reasonably dislike Mandelson or think the appointment unwise. My point was simply that some of the claims being made go beyond what’s actually evidenced.

Happy to leave it there for anyone who doesn’t want to get into the factual weeds.

Puts Boris Johnson’s birthday cake incident well in the shade though! Just remembering the pages and pages of comments about that on here and we all know how that ended.

I hadn't seen the new post. My last post was in reply to Oreo (Thu 05-Feb-26 09:44:06) and GrannyGravy13 Thu 05-Feb-26 09:38:22

I have said for ages, I dont think he will survive past this May. One way or another.

It is one of the most significant political scandals in decades, it showed a catastrophic error of judgement and a few of us said so at the time.
I don't think for one moment Starmer will survive this.

sixandahalf

I'm not gloating with my popcorn. I'm sad and afraid.

So am I. I am no fan of Labour. It is very far from the socialist government I want but I am frightened that the Epstein scandal will bring it down and what could happen next.

Let’s not forget that Farage and Reform Treasurer and major donor Nick Candy were very much part of the whole Epstein/Bannon/Thiel circle and how they worked together for personal enrichment and political gain and still work together following Epstein’s death.

This was linked to elsewhere on the board. It’s worth reading:

In Putin’s Orbit: The Crypto Politics of Jeffrey Epstein and Peter Thiel - The web of ties between Epstein, Moscow and Silicon Valley leads back to Steve Bannon and Nigel Farage

bylinetimes.com/2026/02/03/in-putins-orbit-the-crypto-politics-of-jeffrey-epstein-and-peter-thiel/