The archaism of Britain’s upper parliamentary chamber is not the cause of Sir Keir Starmer’s current political woes, but it is a feature. Peter Mandelson’s peerage was not directly related to his appointment as ambassador to Washington, but nor was it irrelevant. He enjoyed the status bestowed by a seat in the Lords during many years of friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Although he has voluntarily resigned from active membership of parliament, Lord Mandelson’s title can only be rescinded by special statute. That is a reminder of the absurdity in a system that empowers party leaders to dole out places in the legislature to friends and supporters, with no obligation ever to face judgment by the electorate.
Sir Keir is now under yet more pressure related to a peer. Earlier this week, Labour suspended the Lords whip from Matthew Doyle, a former Downing Street director of communications, who campaigned in council elections on behalf of a friend who had been charged with possessing indecent images of children. Lord Doyle says he had believed his friend was innocent. No 10 says he did not give a full account of the facts when the peerage was awarded.
