“How can we trust the Prime Minister’s judgement?”That is the nub of Sir Keir Starmer’s problems.It came from Liz Saville-Roberts, the Westminster leader of Plaid Cymru during PMQs.Kemi Badenoch had repeatedly tried to skewer him on the latest crisis engulfing this deeply unpopular Labour Government.Because the crisis enveloping Peter Mandelson and the government is of Sir Keir Starmer’s own making.During PMQs, the PM seemed to admit having known before appointing Mandelson as US Ambassador, that Lord Mandelson (he still has the title, though he’s stepping down from the House of Lords today), had continued his relationship with billionaire financier and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein AFTER his release from jail.However, in the briefing with journalists afterwards, the Prime Minister’s spokesman muddied the waters with lengthy explanations of procedures and how they are limited in what they can say now that the police are investigating.Talk of what must be held back for fear of compromising national security or harming international relations.It’s a complicated story, but at its heart, very simple. Peter Mandelson, a big Labour beast for four decades, had twice before been sacked in disgrace from Tony Blair’s cabinet in the late 1990s.Plus, his friendship with the convicted paedophile Epstein was widely known.Does a leopard change its spots?We know the answer.Sir Keir Starmer told the Commons: “I regret appointing him [Mandelson]. If I’d known then what I know now, he would never have been anywhere near government.”The Prime Minister told MPs: “I’m as angry as anyone.”The blunt truth is, they knew it was a risky move to put the Prince of Darkness in the plum role of US Ambassador.But they did it anyway.Morgan McSweeney must take much of the blame. While Sue Gray was Chief of Staff, there was no prospect of Mandelson getting the job. But McSweeney was close to Mandelson and pushed for him to get the job.But the buck stops with the guy at the very top. A man who says he intends to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. Who says victims must be uppermost in our minds?But who nevertheless ignored all the lights flashing red on the dashboard.MPs are horrified, seeing their jobs likely vanish after the next general election, and a government which lurches from U-turn to U-turn.It’s the end for Peter Mandelson. It could well spell the end for the Prime Minister, too.All eyes are on what happens in May after the local elections.
Trump “deploying all resources” to get Savannah Guthrie’s mom home
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