More revelations in the Mandelson scandal are upping the pressure on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Mandelson was given the post of ambassador to the US despite failing security vetting. In the House of Commons, Starmer apologised for the appointment but said that at the time of the decision he had not been fully informed.
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Blaming everyone except himself
Starmer’s apology did not convince The Daily Telegraph:
“His self-righteousness is colossal, so much so that he has blamed everyone except himself for not doing what he should have done before giving Mandelson such an important job. … Sir Keir has accused the Foreign Office, and its former permanent secretary Sir Olly Robbins – sacked last week – of a cover up. The Prime Minister grandly claims that he has accepted blame but he has done no such thing. He once said he would carry the can for the mistakes of officials but when the opportunity to do so came he sacrificed the official to save his own skin.”
Time to get a grip
The Independent sees the debacle as a warning:
“This crisis will pass, and the prime minister will most likely survive at least until the May elections and beyond – but his troubles and the weaknesses of the government remain. This feels too much like an administration not in control of events, with no defining mission and stumbling from one crisis to the next. Sir Keir has rightly won considerable respect for his sober judgement in international relations and the Iran war, in stark contrast to domestic affairs. … However, he does need to get a grip – and be seen to do so. No one wants a passenger for a PM.”
Punishment at the polling station
Labour will pay the price for this in two weeks’ time, says De Standaard:
“There seems to be a steady stream of revelations that are pushing the PM into an ever tighter corner. And every time he tries to pass the buck. … In parliament on Monday a number of Labour ministers showed a distinct lack of willingness to defend their leader. They know that the party will be presented the bill for this affair in just under two weeks. Parliamentary elections are pending in Wales and Scotland and local elections are due to be held across much of England. It’s already clear that Labour will suffer historic losses.”