Mapped: the elections that could deliver ‘unprecedented’ losses for Labour All signs point to a record low performance for Labour in May in what will be a moment of high jeopardy for Keir Starmer The Guardian - UK · Apr 23
Thursday briefing: Why the US president is losing support from crucial allies In today’s newsletter: As political tensions rise abroad and economic pressures mount at home, Donald Trump faces a shifting landscape that is testing the loyalty of his Maga supporters The Guardian - UK · Apr 23
Starmer-Mandelson latest: Dismissal of Robbins over vetting scandal ‘wholly unacceptable’, says ex-Labour minister Denis MacShane said he had never seen such a ‘fallout’ between No 10 and the civil service The Independent UK · Apr 23
Senior civil servant faces Mandelson questions from MPs amid ‘Cabinet divisions’ Cabinet divisions have emerged over Sir Keir’s handling of the process, according to multiple reports. Evening Standard · Apr 22
Starmer pays tribute to cancer nurse who cared for his late brother in emotional St George’s Day speech The Prime Minister also hailed ‘service, generosity, and respect’ as three key English values The Independent UK · Apr 22
Ian Collard: the Foreign Office insider who may be key to Mandelson scandal Olly Robbins’ meeting with Collard resulted in Mandelson’s security clearance, which is now under intense scrutiny The Guardian - UK · Apr 22
The Guardian view on blaming the civil service: the predictable refuge of failing governments Editorial: Whitehall has its flaws, but reform can only be successful in a climate of trust, not fear The Guardian - UK · Apr 22
Allies of Olly Robbins make Starmer claim after being sacked over Mandelson vetting row IN FULL The Independent UK · Apr 22
Keir Starmer Is Facing Calls to Resign From His Own Party Two Weeks Before Local Elections That Labour Is Expected to Lose Badly Calls for United Kingdom Prime Minister Kier Starmer to resign have begun to rise following revelations about former Ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson's appointment, with Labour also facing falling support ahead of local elections. International Business Times UK · Apr 22
Starmer sacked Olly Robbins before he could defend himself over Mandelson scandal, allies say Exclusive: Kemi Badenoch says the ‘whole thing stinks’ and suggests that the PM would have misled MPs if the claims were true The Independent UK · Apr 22
Holier than thou: inside the 24 April Guardian Weekly Did Trump and Vance pick on the wrong pope? Plus Keir Starmer in the crosshairs The Guardian - UK · Apr 22
Do Olly Robbins’ actions stand up to scrutiny? Letters: Readers respond to the former civil servant’s testimony to MPs in the foreign affairs select committee The Guardian - UK · Apr 22
MPs vote against social media ban for under-16s for third time Education minister Olivia Bailey told the Commons that a consultation was the way forward The Independent UK · Apr 22
No one can look Starmer in the eye … and the Mandy saga is not going away The PM’s failure was being a spectator as Morgan McSweeney set about finding jobs for his mates The Guardian - UK · Apr 22
The Independent UK · Apr 22 I’ve covered Labour for decades – ask me anything about what happens next for Starmer ASK ME ANYTHING: With Keir Starmer under pressure from the deepening Mandelson vetting scandal, chief political commentator John Rentoul is here to answer your questions and offer his insight from Westminster
The Guardian - UK · Apr 22 Morgan McSweeney, Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff, to be questioned by MPs Exclusive: McSweeney summoned by foreign affairs select committee in rare step, as Mandelson vetting row continues
The Guardian - UK · Apr 22 Divisions emerge in Keir Starmer’s cabinet over his sacking of Olly Robbins PM under increasing pressure over Mandelson vetting scandal as sources say ministers spoke up at tense meeting
The Conversation · Apr 22 Mandelson vetting scandal: why Whitehall is the worst of all worlds when it comes to accountability Keir Starmer’s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US keeps coming back to haunt him. It has now emerged that Mandelson was granted security clearance by the Foreign Office, despite concerns raised during the vetting process. Top Foreign Office civil servant Olly Robbins was sacked over these…
The Guardian - UK · Apr 22 How Olly Robbins’ knightly charm glossed over burning questions on Mandelson vetting Former Foreign Office top official’s evidence raises stark issues with ‘the system’ he was seeking to defend
Euronews · Apr 22 Keir Starmer defies resignation calls over Mandelson envoy row Mandelson was named to the top diplomatic post in December 2024, just weeks before US President Donald Trump was inaugurated the following month.
The Guardian - UK · Apr 22 Met police in talks to buy Palantir AI tech for use in criminal investigations Exclusive: Internal concerns over allowing US firm linked to ICE and Israeli military to process highly sensitive data
The Guardian - UK · Apr 22 After Starmer and Robbins, McSweeney faces a grilling on Mandelson. Can this government survive? Our panel responds The civil servant says he was pressured by No 10 to get Mandelson’s vetting done; the PM says he wasn’t informed. Who emerges most damaged?
The Independent UK · Apr 22 Starmer admits his former spin doctor was considered for top ambassador job Calls for an inquiry as Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accuses PM of delivering ‘cronyism and an old boy’ club’