Angela Rayner warned Sir Keir Starmer not to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador due to concern over his links to Jeffrey Epstein, it has been reported.
The former deputy prime minister told Sir Keir in 2024 handing the job to Lord Mandelson would be a mistake due to his ties to the paedophile financier, according to reports in The Times.
Sir Keir has apologised for believing Lord Mandelson’s “lies” and vowed to hand over documents related to his vetting to parliament’s intelligence and security committee (ISC).
It comes after the Metropolitan Police searched addresses in Wiltshire and Camden, north London, as part of a misconduct in public office investigation launched into Lord Mandelson.
Officers were seen leaving his London address, carrying boxes on Friday evening. The force said the alleged offences involved a 72-year-old man and confirmed that he had not been arrested.
Key Points
- Two properties linked to peer searched by police amid Epstein investigation
- Mandelson's lobbying firm cuts all ties and announces boss to quit
- Rayner warned Starmer not to appoint Mandelson, according to reports
- Brown says he 'deeply regrets' bringing Mandelson into government
- Senior government figures forced to hand over private messages with Mandelson
Brown says he 'deeply regrets' bringing Mandelson into government
07:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneGordon Brown has said he deeply regrets bringing Peter Mandelson into his government, according to a report in The Guardian.
Writing in the newspaper, the former prime minister said he takes responsibility for Lord Mandelson’s appointment and that revelations the peer had leaked sensitive information had caused him revulsion.
“I have to take personal responsibility for appointing Mandelson to his ministerial role in 2008. I greatly regret this appointment,” he wrote, adding he did not know about his links to Epstein.
“I did so in spite of him being anything but a friend to me, because I thought that his unquestioned knowledge of Europe and beyond could help us as we dealt with the global financial crisis.
“I now know that I was wrong. He seems to have used market-sensitive inside information to betray the principles in which he said he believed, and he betrayed the people who believed in them – and him.”
Keir Starmer warns ISC chair over 'significant volume' of vetting material
06:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer has written to the chair of parliament’s intelligence and security committee (ISC) warning it is likely to receive a “significant volume” of material over his vetting of Lord Peter Mandelson.
In the letter, dated 6 February, the prime minister says he has instructed the cabinet secretary to “work with you and your committee to agree the detail of how material that may be prejudicial to the UK’s National Security and International Relations is shared and reviewed, having regard to the requirements of the Metropolitan Police investigation”.
He adds: “As you note in your letter, it is important that documents are made available to parliament as soon as possible, noting that there is likely to be a very significant volume of material that will need to be reviewed to establish whether it is in scope.
“Above all else, the government wishes to engage constructively with the ISC, and to ensure that parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency it deserves. I have asked the Cabinet Secretary to follow up.”
Starmer still under pressure as discontent mounts
06:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer is ending the week under intense pressure after his own MPs called for him to resign over his appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson.
The prime minister is facing a battle to stay in post as he faces questions over his political judgement.
It comes after months of speculation about Sir Keir’s leadership of the Labour Party, with senior figures appearing to position themselves as his successor.
Some have declared “it’s over” for Starmer, while others have pointed the finger at his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.
Analysis: Starmer’s survival depends on the fate of his right-hand man
05:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
How Starmer’s survival depends on the fate of his right-hand man
Everything we know about searches at Mandelson's homes
05:00 , Nicole Wootton-CanePolice were seen searching two properties linked to Lord Peter Mandelson on Friday as a police probe into the disgraced ex-peer intensifies.
Emails published by the US Department of Justice appear to show Lord Mandelson leaking sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein during his time in government.
Earlier this week, the Metropolitan Police said they had launched an investigation into misconduct in public office offences.
On Friday, the force confirmed the 72-year-old man at the centre of the investigation had not been arrested.
Pictures show police officers outside Lord Mandelson’s homes in Camden and Wiltshire, with people seen carrying boxes out of the Camden property.
Watch: Mandelson ‘portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew,’ says Starmer
04:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWill Starmer resign over Mandelson-Epstein scandal and who could replace him?
03:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keit Starmer is under growing pressure to resign after he appointed Lord Peter Mandelson to the role of US ambassador.
Lord Mandelson has been accused of leaking sensitive government documents to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein during his time in government in 2008.
But will the prime minister resign - and if so, who could replace him?
The Independent’s political corespondent Athena Stavrou takes a look below:
Will Starmer resign over Mandelson-Epstein scandal and who could replace him?
Who is Peter Mandelson and what do we know about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein?
02:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneLord Peter Mandelson has been at the centre of a political storm this week after newly released emails suggested he leaked confidential government information to Jeffrey Epstein.
But who is the peer, and what do we know about his relationship with Epstein?
You can read more below:
Who is Peter Mandelson and what do we know about his relationship with Epstein?
In pictures: Police search Mandelson-linked properties
01:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Ministers will be asked to hand over messages to Mandelson
00:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSenior government figures will have to hand over their messages with Peter Mandelson ahead of the release of files related to the prime minister’s decision to appoint the former peer as US ambassador despite his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Parliament’s intelligence and security committee (ISC) informed the prime minister on Friday it would require all “electronic communications and minutes of all meetings” between Mandelson and ministers, government officials and special advisers during his time as US ambassador to be handed over.
The Independent’s political correspondent Athena Stavrou has more below:
Senior government figures forced to hand over private messages with Mandelson
Explained: How easy would it be for Labour MPs to force Starmer out?
23:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Watch: Police searching two properties linked to Peter Mandelson
22:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRayner warned Starmer not to appoint Mandelson, according to reports
22:01 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAngela Rayner warned Sir Keir Starmer not to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador due to his links to Jeffrey Epstein, it has been reported.
Sources told The Times on Friday Ms Rayner had privately warned the prime minister that appointing Lord Mandelson would be a mistake because of evidence of his continued relationship to Epstein after his conviction for sex offences.
The former deputy prime minister publicly applied pressure on Sir Keir this week after she called for him to release the vetting documents related to Lord Mandelson’s appointment.
UK will 'turn corner faster' if government backs Starmer, minister says
22:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainBritain will "turn the corner" faster if the government backs Sir Keir Starmer, a minister has said.
Asked whether the prime minister had become a "drag" on the Labour Party, Home Office minister Mike Tapp told Sky News: "We're starting to turn the corner.
"I believe if we stick with Keir Starmer, which we will, then that corner will turn faster and people will start to feel it.
"But I completely understand the anger and the distress at what's happened with Peter Mandelson's appointment. I completely agree with that, and that's why I'm really pleased to see a genuine, genuine apology from Keir Starmer."
He added that Sir Keir had "clearly" been lied to during Lord Mandelson's vetting process, saying: "I trust that, I trust Keir Starmer.
"Let's see what comes out from the documents. I think transparency is vital and that's what we're getting from this government."
Police carry boxes out of Mandelson's Camden home
21:37 , Nicole Wootton-CanePolice have left Lord Mandelson’s property in London carrying several boxes.
Seven officers exited the front door of the house in Camden at about 8.23pm, one carrying a white cardboard box and another with a blue plastic one.
Reporters’ cameras flashed as they drove away in cars that had been parked outside the building.
Earlier, officers were seen searching a car parked outside the address.
Plain-clothed officers wearing blue medical gloves used torches to search the Range Rover.
They left his Camden property shortly before 8.15pm and spent around three minutes looking inside the vehicle before returning to the house.
Will Starmer resign over Mandelson-Epstein scandal and who could replace him?
21:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainSir Keir Starmer is fighting for his political life amid fury over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
Figures across the political spectrum - including MPs in his own party - have questioned the prime minister’s judgement, with some declaring “it’s over” for Starmer.
But who could his replacement be, and could they unite a warring party?
Athena Stavrou has more here:
Will Starmer resign over Mandelson-Epstein scandal and who could replace him?
Senior government figures forced to hand over private messages with Mandelson
21:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainSenior government figures will have to hand over their messages with Peter Mandelson ahead of the release of files related to the prime minister’s decision to appoint the former peer as US ambassador despite his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The government is set to publish Mandelson’s vetting documents in the hopes that transparency will help Sir Keir Starmer weather the political storm threatening his leadership, after he apologised to victims of Epstein for the appointment.
Athena Stavrou reports:
Senior government figures forced to hand over private messages with Mandelson
Police leave Mandelson's London home carrying boxes
20:45 , Tom BarnesPolice have left Lord Mandelson’s property in London carrying several boxes.
Seven officers exited the front door of the house in Camden at about 8.23pm, one carrying a white cardboard box and another with a blue plastic one.
Reporters’ cameras flashed as they drove away in cars that had been parked outside the building.
Readers slam ‘old boys’ club’ for sidelining Dame Karen Pierce in favour of Peter Mandelson
20:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainOur community viewed Dame Karen Pierce’s removal as an unnecessary and gendered misjudgement, sidelining an effective diplomat in favour of ‘one of the boys’.
Read it here:
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Readers slam ‘old boys’ club’ over Mandelson replacing Dame Karen Pierce
Keir Starmer tells ISC chair government wish to 'engage constructively' over vetting files
20:21 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer has written to the chair of parliament’s intelligence and security committee saying the government wishes to “engage constructively” over the release of vetting files concerning Lord Mandelson.
In the letter, dated 6 February, the prime minister says he has instructed the cabinet secretary to “work with you and your committee to agree the detail of how material that may be prejudicial to the UK’s National Security and International Relations is shared and reviewed, having regard to the requirements of the Metropolitan Police investigation”.
He adds: “As you note in your letter, it is important that documents are made available to parliament as soon as possible, noting that there is likely to be a very significant volume of material that will need to be reviewed to establish whether it is in scope.
“Above all else, the government wishes to engage constructively with the ISC,and to ensure that parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency it deserves. I have asked the Cabinet Secretary to follow up.”
Labour needs a ‘complete reset’ in ‘moment of desperate need’, says former Scottish leader
20:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe government is in need of a “complete reset”, the former Labour first minister of Scotland has said.
Lord McConnell, who led the Labour Party in Scotland from 2001 to 2007, has said it’s time for Sir Keir Starmer to stop blaming advisers for mistakes and “step up”.
"To me there needs to be a complete reset here, not one of the half-hearted resets that we've seen,” he told Times Radio.
He called for Labour figures to “show us what you’ve got” in what he described as a “moment of desperate need” for the party.
“We need somebody now to step up and see that they can deliver that and they could most of all that they can provide hope for the people in the country."
Brown 'deeply regrets' bringing Mandelson into government, reports say
19:38 , Nicole Wootton-CaneGordon Brown has said he deeply regrets bringing Peter Mandelson into his government, according to a report in The Guardian.
Writing in the newspaper, the former prime minister said he takes responsibility for Lord Mandelson’s appointment and that revelations the peer had leaked sensitive information had caused him revulsion.
“I have to take personal responsibility for appointing Mandelson to his ministerial role in 2008. I greatly regret this appointment,” he wrote, adding he did not know about his links to Epstein.
“I did so in spite of him being anything but a friend to me, because I thought that his unquestioned knowledge of Europe and beyond could help us as we dealt with the global financial crisis.
“I now know that I was wrong. He seems to have used market-sensitive inside information to betray the principles in which he said he believed, and he betrayed the people who believed in them – and him.”
Government do not have access to Mandelson’s private emails
19:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainOur political correspondent Athena Stavrou reports:
Downing Street would not be drawn on whether Peter Mandelson would hand over private emails as part of the document release.
When asked if Mandelson was complying with the government’s efforts to gather documents on his vetting process, a spokesman said: “I can't speak for Lord Mandelson.
We are obviously assessing the documentation that is relevant now and falls within the motion.”
They added: “There's private email addresses and things which the government wouldn't have access to.”
Six cars outside Lord Peter Mandelson's Wiltshire house as police investigate
19:05 , Shaheena UddinOne police car and five unmarked cars were seen parked outside Lord Peter Mandelson’s Wiltshire address, which had lights on inside and an open garage door.
A handful of members of the media were gathered outside the detached home near Wilcot.
Similarly the police investigated Mandelson’s home near Regent’s park in Central London.
Two people believed to be police officers left Lord Peter Mandelson’s London house to retrieve empty packing boxes from their car.
The two men then collected the boxes from the car parked outside the property near Regent’s Park before re-entering.
Editorial: If a miserable Starmer is to survive, he must show leadership
19:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe PM is struggling to atone for his colossal misjudgement in appointing Peter Mandelson, but his bigger problem is that the country has simply stopped listening to him.
Read more here:
If a miserable Starmer is to survive, he must show leadership
In pictures: Police search Mandelson's Wiltshire home
18:52 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Will Keir Starmer survive the Mandelson-Epstein scandal?
18:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Police cars parked outside Lord Mandelson's Wiltshire address
18:29 , Nicole Wootton-CaneOne marked police car and five unmarked cars were seen parked outside Lord Peter Mandelson’s Wiltshire address on Friday evening, according to the Press Association.
The property had lights on inside and an open garage door.
A handful of members of the media were gathered outside the detached home near Wilcot.
Mandelson’s lobbying firm cuts all ties with disgraced peer amid Epstein fallout
18:20 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA lobbying firm co-founded by Peter Mandelson has severed all connections with the peer.
Its chief executive, Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, has also announced his departure.
The decision follows mounting pressure on Global Counsel over Lord Mandelson's association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mandelson’s lobbying firm cuts all ties with disgraced peer amid Epstein fallout
Labour MP slams Mandelson's alleged leaks as 'treasonous'
18:18 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
A Labour MP who worked as a special adviser to ex-chancellor Alistair Darlington in 2009 has slammed alleged leaks by Lord Peter Mandelson to Jeffrey Epstein and “treasonous”.
Milton Keynes MP Emily Darlington said: "I am beyond being furious and appalled. Everyone was working all hours to protect people’s bank accounts and save the economy. To think that he was leaking the information to Epstein so he could help rich Americans money make money on the UK government’s actions. It is treasonous.
“Hopefully we get enough detail to assess how much this drove up the cost of the government bailouts."
She warned it would be "unforgivable" if Mandelson's actions made the bailout of the banks even more expensive for the British taxpayer.
Is Angela Rayner, Queen of the North, really ready to march on Starmer’s Westminster?
18:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainWith furious Labour MPs – and the country – baying for blood over Lord Mandelson’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein, the only thing keeping Keir Starmer in post has been uncertainty over his replacement – but that could be set to change, writes Sonia Sodha:
Is Angela Rayner, Queen of the North, really ready to march on Starmer’s Westminster?
Zarah Sultana calls for Keir Starmer to resign over Mandelson scandal
17:58 , Shaheena UddinZarah Sultana, Your Party, MP for Coventry South, has called on Keir Starmer to resign over his previous support for Mandelson.
Ms Sultana cited how the prime minister told the Commons last September that he had “full confidence” in Peter Mandelson.
“Well the public has no confidence in him. He should do the honourable thing and resign”, she added.
Ms Sultana said: “Peter Mandelson was eventually removed as US ambassador, but he remained in the House of Lords and as a Labour party member until three days ago. So the Labour party cannot pretend that this was some distant mistake quietly corrected a long time ago. This was a decision they defended until they were forced to abandon it and he should never have been appointed in the first place.”
She called for the government to publish all the documents, the risk assessments, the correspondence and the contracts including involvement with the company Palantir. She also supported calls for an independent judge-led public inquiry.
Last September, Keir Starmer told the Commons that he had “full confidence” in Peter Mandelson.
— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) February 6, 2026
Well, the public has no confidence in him.
He must resign. pic.twitter.com/h5YbuhL1I3
'No 10 needs gutting from top to bottom' - Labour MP
17:40 , Maryam Zakir-HussainIn a fiery post, Kim Johnson, MP for Liverpool Riverside, has said Downing Street “needs gutting from top to bottom”.
She added that the Mandelson scandal shows “McSweeney’s operation is rotten to the core”.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant - and what’s been exposed shows McSweeney’s operation is rotten to the core.
— Kim Johnson (@KimJohnsonMP) February 5, 2026
We’re told the adults are in the room. If this is their idea of leadership, No. 10 needs gutting from top to bottom.https://t.co/xW6d3NmwA5
'There needs to be a clear out of No 10'- Simon Opher MP
17:20 , Maryam Zakir-HussainSimon Opher MP has said there needs to be a "clear out" of number 10 and has called for the Prime Minister's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney to leave.
On the Today programme on Friday, the Labour MP said: "There's a lot of anger amongst Labour MPs, because really we want to, I mean, yesterday, I want to be talking about the cancer care plan, not about Peter Mandelson.
"So I think what we need to do, I think what needs to really happen is that we need to, Keir Starmer needs to change his advisers in Number 10, I think he's been badly advised, and he's been really let down, particularly on this decision.
"I mean, I know in politics, we really rely on people to sort of cover our backs, our advisors, and I think they patently haven't done this with Peter Mandelson, and I think so we need a bit of a clear out really at number 10."
Asked whether this meant Mr McSweeney leaving, Mr Opher replied: "I think so yes".
"If my chief of staff had done this I think he would be looking for another job to be honest," he said.
Police officers continue to search Lord Peter Mandelson's house
17:16 , Shaheena UddinAnother two people believed to be police officers have arrived at Lord Peter Mandelson’s house near Regent’s Park in central London on Friday afternoon.
Both of them appeared to be wearing body cameras.
Mandelson’s lobbying firm cuts all ties and announces boss is set to quit
16:53 , Shaheena UddinThe lobbying firm co-founded by Peter Mandelson has cut all ties with the former US ambassador and has announced its boss Benjamin Wegg-Prosser will step down.
Global Counsel said Lord Mandelson has been stripped of his stake in the business and no longer carries any influence over it. The business has divested his shares and ended all connections to him.
Co-founder and chief executive Mr Wegg-Prosser said he was leaving the organisation as it was “time to draw a line” between the firm and the “actions” of Lord Mandelson.
Managing director, Rebecca Park has replaced him as head of the firm, and his page on the company’s website has already been taken down. Ms Park has also acquired the remaining shares that were held by Lord Mandelson.
The chairman, Archie Norman, said: “With the completion of this process today, Peter Mandelson no longer has any shareholding, role or association with Global Counsel and has no influence over the firm in any capacity.
“Global Counsel is independently governed and led and continues to focus on serving its clients with integrity and professionalism.”
Lord Mandelson co-founded the London-based firm with Mr Wegg-Prosser in 2010 after Labour lost the general election, but stepped down from its board around two years ago.
Mr Wegg-Prosser was formerly a political advisor and director of strategic communications under former prime minister Tony Blair, before going on to work as a director at a Russian media firm.
Global Counsel has worked with wide variety of clients including: Palantir, GSK, Vodafone, OpenAI, TikTok and the English Premier League.
Barclays has also cut ties with Global Counsel amid the scrutiny.
In pictures: Lord Mandelson's home near Regent's Park searched
16:45 , Shaheena Uddin
We need to talk about Dame Karen Pierce – the midlife woman pushed out of her job for Peter Mandelson
16:40 , Maryam Zakir-HussainBefore Mandelson was appointed the UK’s ambassador to Washington, Pierce was already doing a brilliant job.
Eleanor Mills says the current scandal is a self-inflicted wound for Keir Starmer and another example of a great woman of a certain age being replaced by one of the boys:
Meet Dame Karen Pierce – the midlife woman pushed out of her job for Peter Mandelson
Two police officers investigate Lord Peter Mandelson’s house
16:26 , Shaheena UddinTwo people believed to be police officers arrived outside Lord Mandelson’s house near Regent’s Park in central London on Friday afternoon.
One of them appeared to be wearing a small body camera. They knocked on the door and entered the house.
After a short while, the two people left Lord Peter Mandelson’s house to collect items from their car.
They collected a blue box and a large bag, before re-entering the property near Regent’s Park in central London.
A man has since left Lord Peter Mandelson’s house and got into a car. He declined to comment, including on anything happening inside the residence.
Senior government figures forced to hand over private messages with Mandelson
16:20 , Maryam Zakir-HussainSenior government figures will have to hand over their messages with Peter Mandelson ahead of the release of files related to the prime minister’s decision to appoint the former peer as US ambassador despite his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The government is set to publish Mandelson’s vetting documents in the hopes that transparency will help Sir Keir Starmer weather the political storm threatening his leadership, after he apologised to victims of Epstein for the appointment.
On Wednesday, the prime minister backed down and ceded control to parliament’s intelligence and security committee (ISC) to decide what would not be released into the public domain based on national security concerns.
Athena Stavrou reports:
Senior government figures forced to hand over private messages with Mandelson
Wiltshire property where Mandelson declared he would not not hide ‘under a rock’ because of Epstein revelations
16:08 , Maryam Zakir-HussainOur Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
Mandelson declared he would not hide “under a rock” despite a series of shocking revelations about his relationship with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein from his Wiltshire home earlier this week.
In a bizarre interview published on Monday, carried out before some of the most serious allegations emerged, Mandelson said that “hiding under a rock would be a disproportionate response to a handful of misguided historical emails, which I deeply regret sending.”
He added: “I too am amazed by some of the conversations I had and areas of my life where I was seeking advice from Epstein.”
He also praised Epstein’s dinner parties and said he could not recall anything related to an extraordinary photo, released by as part of the Epstein files, that pictured him in his underpants.
He said he had “no idea what I am doing in this photograph or who the woman was. It looks as though she came in and showed me something on an iPad”.
Who is Morgan McSweeney? Starmer’s right-hand man and Peter Mandelson ally
16:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainMorgan McSweeney, seen as an ally of the disgraced peer, is considered the driving force behind Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador.
This is despite his alleged knowledge that Mandelson's dealings with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein continued after the financier’s conviction for child sex offences.
As the prime minister’s right-hand man, Mr McSweeney is central to government strategy and decision-making.
Read more here:
Who is Morgan McSweeney? Starmer’s right-hand man and Peter Mandelson ally
BREAKING: Two properties linked to ex-Lord being searched by police amid Epstein investigation
15:53 , Maryam Zakir-HussainPolice are searching addresses in Wiltshire and Camden, north London, as part of a misconduct in public office investigation launched into Lord Peter Mandelson.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hayley Sewart, of the Metropolitan Police, said: "I can confirm that officers from the Met's Central Specialist Crime team are in the process of carrying out search warrants at two addresses, one in the Wiltshire area, and another in the Camden area.
"The searches are related to an ongoing investigation into misconduct in public office offences, involving a 72-year-old man.
"He has not been arrested and enquiries are ongoing."
Zack Polanski slams Keir Starmer over Mandelson-Epstein row: ‘Serious questions to answer’
15:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Starmer allies warn a Rayner coup could trigger general election
15:25 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe prime minister’s allies have warned that a leadership coup by Angela Rayner could trigger a general election.
One Labour figure who served on Sir Keir Starmer’s front bench told The Telegraph: “Presumably Angela Rayner, if she got elected, would have a completely different agenda.
“If you come in with a completely different agenda then the country legitimately says, ‘We didn’t vote for this’.”
In-fighting in Labour party as MPs disagree over McSweeney
15:10 , Maryam Zakir-HussainResponding to names of Labour MPs calling for Morgan McSweeney to be sacked, Luke Akehurst MP said: “I'm not sure Morgan McSweeney should lose much sleep over this small collection of my PLP colleagues, all policy rebels on various issues, calling for his departure.”
The MP for North Durham added: “The same names repeatedly take the opportunity to share their hot takes with the media.”
Karl Turner MP was quick to fire back, saying: “I don’t think McSweeney will give a monkeys, Luke. But our PM should. And so should you. We aren’t some sort of fast food franchise. We are the Labour Party.
“Getting clever like this about those of us that have got the bottle to speak says more about you than it does about me.”
I don’t think McSweeney will give a monkeys, Luke. But our PM should. And so should you. We aren’t some sort of fast food franchise. We are the Labour Party. Getting clever like this about those of us that have got the bottle to speak says more about you than it does about me. https://t.co/MhX9iH517i
— Karl Turner MP (@KarlTurnerMP) February 6, 2026
