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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics

Support Starmer and move on from Mandelson vetting row

Keir Starmer visits the Newcastle United Foundation community centre on 23 April 2026.
‘Can we not learn from the chaos caused by the last government in switching prime ministers?’ Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty

Regarding Gaby Hinsliff’s article (Two men made mistakes over Mandelson – only one has lost his job. That should haunt Starmer, 24 April), most would concur that the prime minister has the most important job in the country. It is also one of the most demanding jobs, if it is to be done well. So would it not be better to help Keir Starmer instead of trying to hound him out of office for an error made in December 2024 that has been corrected?

Would it not be better to support him in the job we elected him to do instead of him having to spend time and energy defending himself against his implacable adversaries? Would that not be preferable to replacing him with someone chosen by a small contingent of the elected party? Can we not learn from the chaos caused by the last government in switching prime ministers?
Michael Goodhart
Grantchester, Cambridge

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