“I think the world of you and I feel hopeless and furious about what has happened.
"I can still barely understand it. It just could not happen in Britain. You have to be incredibly resilient, fight for early release and be philosophical about it as much as you can... everything can be turned into an opportunity and that you will come through it and be stronger for it.
"The whole thing has been years of torture and now you have to show the world how big a person you are, and how strong.
@DPJHodges Can someone explain this. Yesterday Peter Mandelson told @MrHarryCole there were more damaging revelations to come about his relationship with Epstein. Starmer then said at PMQs he had full confidence in him. So did the Prime Minister seriously not try to ascertain what these new revelations were before he addressed the House.
"When I was in Washington DC for the inauguration, maybe 1,000 people showed me photos of Mandelson and [Jeffrey] Epstein together, blowing out birthday candles and buying clothes together. And I did say then that this maybe was an unwise appointment," Lord Glasman tells PolHome
Starmer is lucky the BBC haven’t put the PMQs footage on the Mandelson/Epstein story.
What is the Mandelso/Epstein story except for some prurience by a few second rate hacks. Has he done something illegal? I loathe Trump so would be delighted to have someone less sycophantic representing UK interests but that's nothing to do with Epstein. This guilt by association is pretty tabloid and unattractive,
When you accept the hospitality of someone who has just been convicted of a serious sexual offence, well, as the saying goes:
"Lie down with dogs, and pick up fleas."
It's a bit Prince Andrewesque.
The thing is, everyone knows that Andrew is very stupid, as well as being a complete shit.
I had credited Mandleson with more intelligence.
I remember hearing from somebody close to royal circles who observed that it wouldn't surprise him that one day news broke that Prince Andrew's own bodyguards had shot and killed him.
There was a review recently of a book about Prince Andrew which concluded he posessed almost every negative characteristic it is possible to have. He came across as not just by far the worst person in the royal family, but in Britain; possibly the world.
A 'warts and warts on the warts' portrayal. He must have some good points. Can he hold a tune?
I vaguely remeber Dura Ace saying the grand old duke once had a not completely terrible car, but that's about it.
Didn't the formentioned book say that for all his many faults he at least showed genuine courage during the Falklands?
"When I was in Washington DC for the inauguration, maybe 1,000 people showed me photos of Mandelson and [Jeffrey] Epstein together, blowing out birthday candles and buying clothes together. And I did say then that this maybe was an unwise appointment," Lord Glasman tells PolHome
Yup, the murder of the Ukrainian girl has definitely breached social media. Loads of usually non-political people and large accounts are posting about it on Instagram and the comments are all pretty universal that the judge who let him walk needs to be held accountable for that decision as well as anger that the murder isn't getting mainstream coverage in the US.
Let's see how it trends but this feels like a lightning rod for racial tension in the US and crime, safety for women and the glib responses (hurt durr, president grab em by the p****) from media types on the latter are really, really hurting the left.
What's the best response to something you feel is intended to stoke up racial hatred?
(I agree that glibness isn't)
Stay quiet. Accept that this was a horrible crime and shut the fuck up, don't try and equivocate or point fingers at anyone other than the guilty party and his enablers in the justice system.
The arrogance of Mandelson going for the ambassador’s job with this in his baggage though. Did he think this was not going to come out? Was he depending on Trump suppressing the Epstein stuff?
"When I was in Washington DC for the inauguration, maybe 1,000 people showed me photos of Mandelson and [Jeffrey] Epstein together, blowing out birthday candles and buying clothes together. And I did say then that this maybe was an unwise appointment," Lord Glasman tells PolHome
Mandelson cannot survive this but just how much trouble is Starmer in himself ?
"Tube drivers striking ‘because they cannot buy in London on £72k salary’ Calls for workers to be given 75pc discount on all mainline train tickets and deals on theme parks" (£)
@DPJHodges Can someone explain this. Yesterday Peter Mandelson told @MrHarryCole there were more damaging revelations to come about his relationship with Epstein. Starmer then said at PMQs he had full confidence in him. So did the Prime Minister seriously not try to ascertain what these new revelations were before he addressed the House.
Yes. The people around Starmer who should be advising him, helping him, protecting him, are clueless idiots.
I think voters often have a good experience with their constituency MP if they are active with surgeries and campaign on local issues and resolve constituents' problems.
National party politics and ambition to climb the greasy pole though has a less good reputation
"When I was in Washington DC for the inauguration, maybe 1,000 people showed me photos of Mandelson and [Jeffrey] Epstein together, blowing out birthday candles and buying clothes together. And I did say then that this maybe was an unwise appointment," Lord Glasman tells PolHome
Mandelson cannot survive this but just how much trouble is Starmer in himself ?
It is starting to feel just a little bit dangerous for Starmer now.
"When I was in Washington DC for the inauguration, maybe 1,000 people showed me photos of Mandelson and [Jeffrey] Epstein together, blowing out birthday candles and buying clothes together. And I did say then that this maybe was an unwise appointment," Lord Glasman tells PolHome
Mandelson cannot survive this but just how much trouble is Starmer in himself ?
Starmer needs a Mandy sacking offence to come to light that he wasn’t briefed about, or Starmer is Toast. This is about as serious as it gets for a PM.
I will mention it again, the thing that makes this so dangerous for the government in the court of public opinion is that the big cut-through around Epstein has already come with the Prince Andrew scandal. So anyone connected to Epstein in British public life now is going to automatically get the same treatment.
"Tube drivers striking ‘because they cannot buy in London on £72k salary’ Calls for workers to be given 75pc discount on all mainline train tickets and deals on theme parks" (£)
Reduce the number of MPs and Lords but give them much higher salaries. So they have less inclination to sleaze and much smarter people will try for the job
Right now we are ruled by morons as only morons fancy an underpaid career where they might get sacked any moment
For evidence, see Keir Starmer, a moron
Singapore approach. Paid well, but its your only job and even a hint of dodginess you are out with stronger law specifically around elected officials misconduct. None of this well i had a 3 homes, I lied about legal advice, soz, but off to the backbench plotting when to come back.
Singapore is a de facto one party state, so much less risk of MPs and Ministers losing office and career at the next election
"When I was in Washington DC for the inauguration, maybe 1,000 people showed me photos of Mandelson and [Jeffrey] Epstein together, blowing out birthday candles and buying clothes together. And I did say then that this maybe was an unwise appointment," Lord Glasman tells PolHome
Mandelson cannot survive this but just how much trouble is Starmer in himself ?
It is starting to feel just a little bit dangerous for Starmer now.
"When I was in Washington DC for the inauguration, maybe 1,000 people showed me photos of Mandelson and [Jeffrey] Epstein together, blowing out birthday candles and buying clothes together. And I did say then that this maybe was an unwise appointment," Lord Glasman tells PolHome
Mandelson cannot survive this but just how much trouble is Starmer in himself ?
It is starting to feel just a little bit dangerous for Starmer now.
It’s very delicious though as he was such a pompous wanker about Tory misdeeds. He set himself up as the Grownup and tosh about wanting some sort of virtuous new broom and yet all he’s done is show himself to be very limited in all ways and lucky he was up against a fag end government who had been blown apart by Brexit, Covid and Ukraine.
Like with Rayner’s crime being one more of hypocrisy, Starmer’s behaviour and words about his opposition are coming back on him too.
No time for the Lib Dem’s but if they can’t make hay from this then they never will.
“I think the world of you and I feel hopeless and furious about what has happened.
"I can still barely understand it. It just could not happen in Britain. You have to be incredibly resilient, fight for early release and be philosophical about it as much as you can... everything can be turned into an opportunity and that you will come through it and be stronger for it.
"The whole thing has been years of torture and now you have to show the world how big a person you are, and how strong.
Hmm. In some ways this gets Mandelson off the hook. He's clearly besotted with the man and believes him to be the innocent victim of some sort of witch hunt. Now, you can call that naïve and his loyalty appallingly misplaced, but that's better than the charge of knowingly hanging out with a sex fiend and partaking in his perversions. Mandy might just get away with this.
Reduce the number of MPs and Lords but give them much higher salaries. So they have less inclination to sleaze and much smarter people will try for the job
Right now we are ruled by morons as only morons fancy an underpaid career where they might get sacked any moment
For evidence, see Keir Starmer, a moron
Starmer was paid £225,978 as £225,978, so more than he now gets as PM, though he does get Chequers and No 10 and motorcade and outriders with that
If Starmer DOES have to resign, then the person who will be sobbing untrollably over his demise?
Rayner...
Mandelson may have to resign, Starmer certainly won't
Really? Then how does Starmer get out of the position of knowing all this when making the appointment?
It’s a definite resigning matter for Starmer. He has lost his own party members, MPs, supporters in press, not over his continued support for Mandleson, but for the fact he knew all this in first place when appointing him.
Starmer was questioned about it in Jan 2024 and told the reporters they knew as much as he did. Seems risky to have appointed him really, he’s got form as long as your arm. Maybe Starmer was being shrewd, knew Trump had Epstein connections and threw Mandy in as a dirty bomb!
Then again all this was pre Trump 2.0 and Starmer being PM.
Anyway this is the clip of Starmer from last January
Starmer is lucky the BBC haven’t put the PMQs footage on the Mandelson/Epstein story.
What is the Mandelso/Epstein story except for some prurience by a few second rate hacks. Has he done something illegal? I loathe Trump so would be delighted to have someone less sycophantic representing UK interests but that's nothing to do with Epstein. This guilt by association is pretty tabloid and unattractive,
When you accept the hospitality of someone who has just been convicted of a serious sexual offence, well, as the saying goes:
If Starmer DOES have to resign, then the person who will be sobbing untrollably over his demise?
Rayner...
Mandelson may have to resign, Starmer certainly won't
Really? Then how does Starmer get out of the position of knowing all this when making the appointment?
It’s a definite resigning matter for Starmer. He has lost his own party members, MPs, supporters in press, not over his continued support for Mandleson, but for the fact he knew all this in first place when appointing him.
The Pincher comparison is a good one here. Obviously it is not quite the same thing as there’s no allegations of wrongdoing, more poor/bad moral and ethical judgement, but there are parallels around who knew what when etc.
But isn't the 'MAGA talking point' angle what makes it headline news? Sad to say but violent murders in America aren't hen's teeth.
I mean, what headline would you want to see?
Start with “A Shameful Day for America”, followed by a million words of Op-Ed that we saw after the death of George Floyd, and more recently the death of Jordan Neely, about how America is screwed and what we can do to make it better.
I will mention it again, the thing that makes this so dangerous for the government in the court of public opinion is that the big cut-through around Epstein has already come with the Prince Andrew scandal. So anyone connected to Epstein in British public life now is going to automatically get the same treatment.
Exactly, this has already got huge cut through, it's literally everywhere and across three group chats I'm in from generally non-political people. I don't understand the logic of not asking for Mandy's resignation this evening. Maybe we'll be surprised and the PM will do it, but after the defence it will be worse. Kemi has put him in a real bind, if he sacks Mandy now it will give her the scalp, if he doesn't then does it next week he will look weak.
Reduce the number of MPs and Lords but give them much higher salaries. So they have less inclination to sleaze and much smarter people will try for the job
Right now we are ruled by morons as only morons fancy an underpaid career where they might get sacked any moment
For evidence, see Keir Starmer, a moron
Starmer was paid £225,978 as £225,978, so more than he now gets as PM, though he does get Chequers and No 10 and motorcade and outriders with that
I hope he’s not recently bought a flat in Brighton with a big mortgage too.
I will mention it again, the thing that makes this so dangerous for the government in the court of public opinion is that the big cut-through around Epstein has already come with the Prince Andrew scandal. So anyone connected to Epstein in British public life now is going to automatically get the same treatment.
Exactly, this has already got huge cut through, it's literally everywhere and across three group chats I'm in from generally non-political people. I don't understand the logic of not asking for Mandy's resignation this evening. Maybe we'll be surprised and the PM will do it, but after the defence it will be worse. Kemi has put him in a real bind, if he sacks Mandy now it will give her the scalp, if he doesn't then does it next week he will look weak.
It’s nice of the government, now that summer has passed, to give us a weekly jolly on PB through shooting themselves in the foot. I’m very much looking forward to what next week’s installment will be and we haven’t even finished this week.
Has a feel of the rolling fuck ups at the end of Boris.
I just don't see how Peter Mandelson can survive this. And if he does, it will do incalculable damage to Keir Starmer. Very tricky to sack him on the eve of the Trump State Visit, but not sure the government can afford another week of this.
Corbyn really could stick the boot in here if he wants to. He’s good at moral outrage and the media wants the narrative. A poll with Labour third behind the Tories, anyone?
I will mention it again, the thing that makes this so dangerous for the government in the court of public opinion is that the big cut-through around Epstein has already come with the Prince Andrew scandal. So anyone connected to Epstein in British public life now is going to automatically get the same treatment.
Exactly, this has already got huge cut through, it's literally everywhere and across three group chats I'm in from generally non-political people. I don't understand the logic of not asking for Mandy's resignation this evening. Maybe we'll be surprised and the PM will do it, but after the defence it will be worse. Kemi has put him in a real bind, if he sacks Mandy now it will give her the scalp, if he doesn't then does it next week he will look weak.
It’s nice of the government, now that summer has passed, to give us a weekly jolly on PB through shooting themselves in the foot. I’m very much looking forward to what next week’s installment will be and we haven’t even finished this week.
Has a feel of the rolling fuck ups at the end of Boris.
As I said earlier on the Guardians PMQ feed a comment said;
If Starmer DOES have to resign, then the person who will be sobbing untrollably over his demise?
Rayner...
Mandelson may have to resign, Starmer certainly won't
Really? Then how does Starmer get out of the position of knowing all this when making the appointment?
It’s a definite resigning matter for Starmer. He has lost his own party members, MPs, supporters in press, not over his continued support for Mandleson, but for the fact he knew all this in first place when appointing him.
As I said, he won't, indeed if nothing criminal emerges about Mandelson's actions when with Epstein he might ride it out too.
For all his faults he has built an effective relationship with the Trump administration in DC
I will mention it again, the thing that makes this so dangerous for the government in the court of public opinion is that the big cut-through around Epstein has already come with the Prince Andrew scandal. So anyone connected to Epstein in British public life now is going to automatically get the same treatment.
Exactly, this has already got huge cut through, it's literally everywhere and across three group chats I'm in from generally non-political people. I don't understand the logic of not asking for Mandy's resignation this evening. Maybe we'll be surprised and the PM will do it, but after the defence it will be worse. Kemi has put him in a real bind, if he sacks Mandy now it will give her the scalp, if he doesn't then does it next week he will look weak.
It’s nice of the government, now that summer has passed, to give us a weekly jolly on PB through shooting themselves in the foot. I’m very much looking forward to what next week’s installment will be and we haven’t even finished this week.
Has a feel of the rolling fuck ups at the end of Boris.
That Darren Jones looks shifty, and he has had a big promotion.
Reduce the number of MPs and Lords but give them much higher salaries. So they have less inclination to sleaze and much smarter people will try for the job
Right now we are ruled by morons as only morons fancy an underpaid career where they might get sacked any moment
For evidence, see Keir Starmer, a moron
I was having a discussion about this with my dad over the weekend because he brought up how shit politicians are these days and I pointed out that being an MP isn't a well paid job compared to what people can get in a large number of industries in the UK now. Someone finance, tech, engineering, big pharma, medicine/dentistry, biotech, media and many others can all out earn an MP with middle ranking individual contributor jobs. If I became an MP it would work out to an over 50% pay cut for me which I can't afford and it's a job that I think carries more responsibility than my current one so why should I take such a huge pay cut for more responsibility plus have to deal with the public on a daily basis and have my whole life put under a microscope. Nah, I'm ok.
Reduce the number of MPs and Lords but give them much higher salaries. So they have less inclination to sleaze and much smarter people will try for the job
Right now we are ruled by morons as only morons fancy an underpaid career where they might get sacked any moment
For evidence, see Keir Starmer, a moron
I was having a discussion about this with my dad over the weekend because he brought up how shit politicians are these days and I pointed out that being an MP isn't a well paid job compared to what people can get in a large number of industries in the UK now. Someone finance, tech, engineering, big pharma, medicine/dentistry, biotech, media and many others can all out earn an MP with middle ranking individual contributor jobs. If I became an MP it would work out to an over 50% pay cut for me which I can't afford and it's a job that I think carries more responsibility than my current one so why should I take such a huge pay cut for more responsibility plus have to deal with the public on a daily basis and have my whole life put under a microscope. Nah, I'm ok.
MPs are in the top 5% of earners, fine for a backbencher. The PM and Cabinet are just outside the top 1% of earners so should be paid more so they are at least in the top 1% for the responsibilities they hold
I will mention it again, the thing that makes this so dangerous for the government in the court of public opinion is that the big cut-through around Epstein has already come with the Prince Andrew scandal. So anyone connected to Epstein in British public life now is going to automatically get the same treatment.
Exactly, this has already got huge cut through, it's literally everywhere and across three group chats I'm in from generally non-political people. I don't understand the logic of not asking for Mandy's resignation this evening. Maybe we'll be surprised and the PM will do it, but after the defence it will be worse. Kemi has put him in a real bind, if he sacks Mandy now it will give her the scalp, if he doesn't then does it next week he will look weak.
There is a reasonable chance that in not very long the issue will be Starmer's position, not Mandelson who I think will go quite soon.
There must be a high chance that it can shown that Starmer knew of Mandelson's dealings with Epstein after imprisonment as well as before. That looks like trouble.
Reduce the number of MPs and Lords but give them much higher salaries. So they have less inclination to sleaze and much smarter people will try for the job
Right now we are ruled by morons as only morons fancy an underpaid career where they might get sacked any moment
For evidence, see Keir Starmer, a moron
I was having a discussion about this with my dad over the weekend because he brought up how shit politicians are these days and I pointed out that being an MP isn't a well paid job compared to what people can get in a large number of industries in the UK now. Someone finance, tech, engineering, big pharma, medicine/dentistry, biotech, media and many others can all out earn an MP with middle ranking individual contributor jobs. If I became an MP it would work out to an over 50% pay cut for me which I can't afford and it's a job that I think carries more responsibility than my current one so why should I take such a huge pay cut for more responsibility plus have to deal with the public on a daily basis and have my whole life put under a microscope. Nah, I'm ok.
I think being an MP up to about 1990 was a great job, but since the arrival of 24 hour news and especially social media the amount of low level PR work you nowadays need to do makes it impossible and that’s before you look at the pay on offer
I will mention it again, the thing that makes this so dangerous for the government in the court of public opinion is that the big cut-through around Epstein has already come with the Prince Andrew scandal. So anyone connected to Epstein in British public life now is going to automatically get the same treatment.
Exactly, this has already got huge cut through, it's literally everywhere and across three group chats I'm in from generally non-political people. I don't understand the logic of not asking for Mandy's resignation this evening. Maybe we'll be surprised and the PM will do it, but after the defence it will be worse. Kemi has put him in a real bind, if he sacks Mandy now it will give her the scalp, if he doesn't then does it next week he will look weak.
It’s nice of the government, now that summer has passed, to give us a weekly jolly on PB through shooting themselves in the foot. I’m very much looking forward to what next week’s installment will be and we haven’t even finished this week.
Has a feel of the rolling fuck ups at the end of Boris.
As I said earlier on the Guardians PMQ feed a comment said;
Starmer's 1st year feels like the Tories's 4th
4th? It took them c. 10-12 years to look quite so crap.
NATO has officially invoked Article 4 at Poland’s request following the Russian drone incursion.
Which they already did anyway when activating air defences
Article 4 is consultation. Article 5 is joint defence, but hasn't been activated. NATO forces contributed to the defence presumably because they are under joint command and that is what they do
“I think the world of you and I feel hopeless and furious about what has happened.
"I can still barely understand it. It just could not happen in Britain. You have to be incredibly resilient, fight for early release and be philosophical about it as much as you can... everything can be turned into an opportunity and that you will come through it and be stronger for it.
"The whole thing has been years of torture and now you have to show the world how big a person you are, and how strong.
Hmm. In some ways this gets Mandelson off the hook. He's clearly besotted with the man and believes him to be the innocent victim of some sort of witch hunt. Now, you can call that naïve and his loyalty appallingly misplaced, but that's better than the charge of knowingly hanging out with a sex fiend and partaking in his perversions. Mandy might just get away with this.
Corbyn really could stick the boot in here if he wants to. He’s good at moral outrage and the media wants the narrative. A poll with Labour third behind the Tories, anyone?
Labour three ahead with Techne and two with FoN last time in the two remaining polls due this week. So its possible with a bit of MoE magic
So this is what the grown ups being in charge looks like.
One term latest.
Starmer’s departure might actually be a huge boon to Labour. I mean, yes, there’s not really anyone else particularly inspiring on the front bench, but a new leader would be able to get rid of Reeves and try and draw a line under all the lawyerly two tier stuff. Not saying it would work, mind.
If Starmer DOES have to resign, then the person who will be sobbing untrollably over his demise?
Rayner...
Mandelson may have to resign, Starmer certainly won't
Really? Then how does Starmer get out of the position of knowing all this when making the appointment?
It’s a definite resigning matter for Starmer. He has lost his own party members, MPs, supporters in press, not over his continued support for Mandleson, but for the fact he knew all this in first place when appointing him.
As I said, he won't, indeed if nothing criminal emerges about Mandelson's actions when with Epstein he might ride it out too.
For all his faults he has built an effective relationship with the Trump administration in DC
Have you been talking to Nigel ?
Ironically as mps across the house turn on Starmer and Mandelson, the only one giving them support is Farage
So this is what the grown ups being in charge looks like.
One term latest.
Starmer’s departure might actually be a huge boon to Labour. I mean, yes, there’s not really anyone else particularly inspiring on the front bench, but a new leader would be able to get rid of Reeves and try and draw a line under all the lawyerly two tier stuff. Not saying it would work, mind.
Would be very funny if Starmer was PM for less time than Rishi.
Reduce the number of MPs and Lords but give them much higher salaries. So they have less inclination to sleaze and much smarter people will try for the job
Right now we are ruled by morons as only morons fancy an underpaid career where they might get sacked any moment
For evidence, see Keir Starmer, a moron
I was having a discussion about this with my dad over the weekend because he brought up how shit politicians are these days and I pointed out that being an MP isn't a well paid job compared to what people can get in a large number of industries in the UK now. Someone finance, tech, engineering, big pharma, medicine/dentistry, biotech, media and many others can all out earn an MP with middle ranking individual contributor jobs. If I became an MP it would work out to an over 50% pay cut for me which I can't afford and it's a job that I think carries more responsibility than my current one so why should I take such a huge pay cut for more responsibility plus have to deal with the public on a daily basis and have my whole life put under a microscope. Nah, I'm ok.
MPs are in the top 5% of earners, fine for a backbencher. The PM and Cabinet are just outside the top 1% of earners so should be paid more so they are at least in the top 1% for the responsibilities they hold
I think politicians' pay in the UK is about right, maybe a little on the low side - what is scandalous is some of the non-political public sector pay. University vice chancellors are on an AVERAGE of £340,000, about double what the PM gets - many get half a million or more. In 2023-24, the chief executives of Channel 4, HS2, and Network Rail received salaries of £619,000, £618,195, and £588,000, respectively. It's not as if any of those organisations are world-leading in any way (or at least any GOOD way as HS2 is by far the most expensive railway per mile).
I can't see why any public sector employee should get more than the PM (£172,153, though that might be bumped up a bit), unless it's strictly performance-related.
So this is what the grown ups being in charge looks like.
One term latest.
Starmer’s departure might actually be a huge boon to Labour. I mean, yes, there’s not really anyone else particularly inspiring on the front bench, but a new leader would be able to get rid of Reeves and try and draw a line under all the lawyerly two tier stuff. Not saying it would work, mind.
Would be very funny if Starmer was PM for less time than Rishi.
Maybe they should put the Deputy election on hold?
In a 2019 Dispatches investigation @cathynewman reveals that Jeffrey Epstein and Lord Mandelson were 'close friends' who had business relations while Epstein served time for sex offences.
At the time we aired this we got an enormous amount of legal pushback…Now we see the full extent of Epstein’s friendship with the man he called “Petey”
So this is what the grown ups being in charge looks like.
One term latest.
Starmer’s departure might actually be a huge boon to Labour. I mean, yes, there’s not really anyone else particularly inspiring on the front bench, but a new leader would be able to get rid of Reeves and try and draw a line under all the lawyerly two tier stuff. Not saying it would work, mind.
Would be very funny if Starmer was PM for less time than Rishi.
Maybe they should put the Deputy election on hold?
They might need to do a double election soon so, yeah
At the moment year 2026 is the favourite with the bookies for Starmer's exit, at about 2/1. Which seems a bit short. 2025 is about 8/1, which today feels either right or a bit long.
The Mandelson saga gives a real and genuine ground for suggesting Starmer must go, as the judgment involved in appointing Mandelson is seen to be wanting, politically, factually and morally. And, I should think there is no shortage of Labour people, to say nothing of media and oppositions, who will give the process a hand if they can.
At the moment year 2026 is the favourite with the bookies for Starmer's exit, at about 2/1. Which seems a bit short. 2025 is about 8/1, which today feels either right or a bit long.
The Mandelson saga gives a real and genuine ground for suggesting Starmer must go, as the judgment involved in appointing Mandelson is seen to be wanting, politically, factually and morally. And, I should think there is no shortage of Labour people, to say nothing of media and oppositions, who will give the process a hand if they can.
Both of those are a massive lay. Starmer has a thick skin and little insight into why he is so unpopular. 2028 is when he steps down.
So this is what the grown ups being in charge looks like.
One term latest.
Starmer’s departure might actually be a huge boon to Labour. I mean, yes, there’s not really anyone else particularly inspiring on the front bench, but a new leader would be able to get rid of Reeves and try and draw a line under all the lawyerly two tier stuff. Not saying it would work, mind.
Would be very funny if Starmer was PM for less time than Rishi.
Hes got to survive till mid March Late May 2027 to beat the shortest serving Labour PM Brown 18th August 2027 to beat Boris
So this is what the grown ups being in charge looks like.
One term latest.
Starmer’s departure might actually be a huge boon to Labour. I mean, yes, there’s not really anyone else particularly inspiring on the front bench, but a new leader would be able to get rid of Reeves and try and draw a line under all the lawyerly two tier stuff. Not saying it would work, mind.
Would be very funny if Starmer was PM for less time than Rishi.
Who would replace Starmer? Rayner was his main rival.
Streeting probably is now amongst the PLP but is a Starmer loyalist
Yup, the murder of the Ukrainian girl has definitely breached social media. Loads of usually non-political people and large accounts are posting about it on Instagram and the comments are all pretty universal that the judge who let him walk needs to be held accountable for that decision as well as anger that the murder isn't getting mainstream coverage in the US.
Let's see how it trends but this feels like a lightning rod for racial tension in the US and crime, safety for women and the glib responses (hurt durr, president grab em by the p****) from media types on the latter are really, really hurting the left.
What's the best response to something you feel is intended to stoke up racial hatred?
(I agree that glibness isn't)
You deal with the issue on its merits and most reasonable people will be satisfied with that if you deal with it effectively.
Dismissing it as an issue raised to stoke a race war should be no part of your response.
I always think the whole of politics boils down to one thing: why can't everywhere be like Norway. Not joking, it's a serious point.
Having lots of money safely tucked away in a sovereign wealth fund must help.
But also, we get the politicians we deserve. Partly because of the media culture we all lap up, partly because we're happy for other people to be paid a lot more for a lot less hassle.
And in the end... We sometimes muse here about how we could do a better job than the fools in Westminster. But there's a big space between that and doing it. I let my Conservative party membership lapse because the party got too awful. But the price of not participating is being ruled by our inferiors.
Mandelson is finished. The Americans, for a start, won’t want the massive embarrassment
As others have said, the focus will now move on to Starmer. Colossal misjudgment
Yes because the Americans certainly can take the moral high ground after their President signed a birthday card for Jeffrey and drew a naked woman’s body on it
I always think the whole of politics boils down to one thing: why can't everywhere be like Norway. Not joking, it's a serious point.
Having lots of money safely tucked away in a sovereign wealth fund must help.
But also, we get the politicians we deserve. Partly because of the media culture we all lap up, partly because we're happy for other people to be paid a lot more for a lot less hassle.
And in the end... We sometimes muse here about how we could do a better job than the fools in Westminster. But there's a big space between that and doing it. I let my Conservative party membership lapse because the party got too awful. But the price of not participating is being ruled by our inferiors.
On current polls we will likely be run by the likes of Jim from the Dog and Duck and other Reform candidates for the People’s Party
I would recommend the parties start giving some serious effort to selecting candidates to start working winnable seats If they asked for my recommendation. Work the shit out of them till the coming implosion
At the moment year 2026 is the favourite with the bookies for Starmer's exit, at about 2/1. Which seems a bit short. 2025 is about 8/1, which today feels either right or a bit long.
The Mandelson saga gives a real and genuine ground for suggesting Starmer must go, as the judgment involved in appointing Mandelson is seen to be wanting, politically, factually and morally. And, I should think there is no shortage of Labour people, to say nothing of media and oppositions, who will give the process a hand if they can.
What was Starmer thinking??
I can’t get my head around it. Such a monumental unforced error
Who made the decision? Who saw the vetting and said Yeah that’s fine. Who asked Mandy about jeff and what did they hear?
So this is what the grown ups being in charge looks like.
One term latest.
Starmer’s departure might actually be a huge boon to Labour. I mean, yes, there’s not really anyone else particularly inspiring on the front bench, but a new leader would be able to get rid of Reeves and try and draw a line under all the lawyerly two tier stuff. Not saying it would work, mind.
Would be very funny if Starmer was PM for less time than Rishi.
Who would replace Starmer? Rayner was his main rival.
Streeting probably is now amongst the PLP but is a Starmer loyalist
If Starmer falls over EpsteinGate then there better be vast stocks of popcorn in the warehouses.
Mandelson is finished. The Americans, for a start, won’t want the massive embarrassment
As others have said, the focus will now move on to Starmer. Colossal misjudgment
Yes because the Americans certainly can take the moral high ground after their President signed a birthday card for Jeffrey and drew a naked woman’s body on it
As I said, we cannot do anything about the toxic Trump but we certainly can with Mandelson who has to go
It must be pretty depressing being a Labour backbencher atm
Leadership looking after their mates, herded like sheep to vote for the right candidate, voting for things you dont agree with and no vision to say what it's all for or give you the chance to look for a light in the tunnel
At the moment year 2026 is the favourite with the bookies for Starmer's exit, at about 2/1. Which seems a bit short. 2025 is about 8/1, which today feels either right or a bit long.
The Mandelson saga gives a real and genuine ground for suggesting Starmer must go, as the judgment involved in appointing Mandelson is seen to be wanting, politically, factually and morally. And, I should think there is no shortage of Labour people, to say nothing of media and oppositions, who will give the process a hand if they can.
Both of those are a massive lay. Starmer has a thick skin and little insight into why he is so unpopular. 2028 is when he steps down.
Ohh. Just flicked through my BF account and it seems already have a bet on a 2025 departure for the PM.
Don't remember making the bet !! It's from Nov last year. 5/1
I went up to Scotland last week (I might have mentioned it). I hate trains but I like the idea of a posh train to somewhere nice. That leaves me the Night Riviera sleeper train to Penzance, the Caledonian Sleeper to Inverness, or the Eurostar to Lille. Not big places, smallish nice towns with nice places where I can sit down and read books, reasonably luxurious and historic with nice buildings. Anybody been to Penzance, Inverness or Lille?
I’ve been to all of them. They’re all great in different ways, and with flaws
Penzance: real end of the line feeling. You are definitely at a terminus and it’s at the very end of Cornwall. The station is by the sea. You exit to ozone and gulls and fish and chips and saltiness. And you are surrounded by Wild West Cornwall
But Penzance is a bit run down. Druggies and shuttered shops
Inverness is quite a handsome town. Granite everywhere. It’s not as dramatic as Penzance but you’re definitely on the door of the highlands and the wilds. The train over to Kyle is spectacular
Can also be rundown. And cold
Lille is probably the most architecturally appealing in itself. Nice French Flemish feel. But much more boring in location and nothing to see - unless you like world war 1 battlefields, in which case it’s fab
I'd agree with all that - but for the Penzance option: why not add on a short branch line hop (changing at St. Erth?) and finish at St. Ives?
On Lille - my daughter went on a school trip to Lille last winter to visit the Christmas markets - less famous than the German counterparts but just as worthwhile. Perhaps you could do that?
All that said, if it were me I'd definitely go for Inverness. Regardless of the city at the end, that's the best train ride.
Inverness - maybe walk over to the Caledonian canal lock staircase and along the canal end to the sea lock. Maybe even a cruise along the canal into Loch Ness (which is some way away, but not too much). Good base also for side trips to eg Elgin, Strathpeffer, Cromarty.
I think they do cruises from Dochgarroch from memory? If not jump on the bus to either Drumnadrochit and do the Nessie tourust stuff and a cruise or down to Fort Augustus where they do some nice hourly cruises If going to Fort William by sleeper, Linnhe Cruises do a great cruise on Loch Linnhe, you get up close and personal with seals and its very informative
Yes, Dochgarroch is the bit of [edit] south west Inverness where there is a lock. The canal runs roughly north-south
Edit: memory failed me - Muirtown a little to the north is where the lock staircase is (which is separate from and a little way from the sea lock to the north): ISTR another firm operates from there. Mrs C and I usually stay in a bijou B&B almost next to the canal there But not recently been so can't give a current recommendation. It's a fair walk from the town centre with luggage though.
Nice river park walks too in the centre and south of Inverness.
Edit: can't opine on cruises as we got a taxi to Loch Ness and met our friends circumnavigating Britain in their yacht and had a private cruise along the canal and helped lock down in the staircase.
Dochgarroch is where you get the ferry boat down to Loch Ness, it’s about four miles south of the city at the last of the canal locks. The boat ride takes two hours and costs £30, it goes half way down Loch Ness to the ruined castle and back again. The boat company is www.jacobite.co.uk
The most impressive locks on the canal are those known as Neptune’s Staircase, just North of Fort William. Easy to miss if you’re on the A82, we may have had to loop back.
It must be pretty depressing being a Labour backbencher atm
Leadership looking after their mates, herded like sheep to vote for the right candidate, voting for things you dont agree with and no vision to say what it's all for or give you the chance to look for a light in the tunnel
Comments
EXCL: Labour peer Lord Glasman issued a warning about Lord Mandelson's appointment as British Ambassador to the United States being "unwise":
https://x.com/siennamarla/status/1965815381077205052
Can someone explain this. Yesterday Peter Mandelson told
@MrHarryCole
there were more damaging revelations to come about his relationship with Epstein. Starmer then said at PMQs he had full confidence in him. So did the Prime Minister seriously not try to ascertain what these new revelations were before he addressed the House.
"When I was in Washington DC for the inauguration, maybe 1,000 people showed me photos of Mandelson and [Jeffrey] Epstein together, blowing out birthday candles and buying clothes together. And I did say then that this maybe was an unwise appointment," Lord Glasman tells PolHome
The arrogance of Mandelson going for the ambassador’s job with this in his baggage though. Did he think this was not going to come out? Was he depending on Trump suppressing the Epstein stuff?
They can live at the end of the line. Reopen Blake Hall and build some dormitories in Ongar.
Their headline? “Woman’s Stabbing Death Becomes MAGA Talking Point”
https://x.com/endwokeness/status/1965607597547135012
https://bsky.app/profile/jorisbinned.bsky.social/post/3lyinovcoec2f
National party politics and ambition to climb the greasy pole though has a less good reputation
This is about as serious as it gets for a PM.
I mean, what headline would you want to see?
Like with Rayner’s crime being one more of hypocrisy, Starmer’s behaviour and words about his opposition are coming back on him too.
No time for the Lib Dem’s but if they can’t make hay from this then they never will.
It’s a definite resigning matter for Starmer. He has lost his own party members, MPs, supporters in press, not over his continued support for Mandleson, but for the fact he knew all this in first place when appointing him.
Then again all this was pre Trump 2.0 and Starmer being PM.
Anyway this is the clip of Starmer from last January
https://x.com/timmyvoe/status/1965734291553566790?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
NATO has officially invoked Article 4 at Poland’s request following the Russian drone incursion.
Obvious to anyone with eyes Mandelson can’t stay in his job. Which is going to cause some awkward conversations for Starmer next week
Has a feel of the rolling fuck ups at the end of Boris.
Rayner
Mandelson
So this is what the grown ups being in charge looks like.
I just don't see how Peter Mandelson can survive this. And if he does, it will do incalculable damage to Keir Starmer. Very tricky to sack him on the eve of the Trump State Visit, but not sure the government can afford another week of this.
Starmer's 1st year feels like the Tories's 4th
For all his faults he has built an effective relationship with the Trump administration in DC
There must be a high chance that it can shown that Starmer knew of Mandelson's dealings with Epstein after imprisonment as well as before. That looks like trouble.
Full confidence, proper procedures
He regretted he was lied to.
Ironically as mps across the house turn on Starmer and Mandelson, the only one giving them support is Farage
You just could not make this up
I can't see why any public sector employee should get more than the PM (£172,153, though that might be bumped up a bit), unless it's strictly performance-related.
In a 2019 Dispatches investigation @cathynewman reveals that Jeffrey Epstein and Lord Mandelson were 'close friends' who had business relations while Epstein served time for sex offences.
@cathynewman
At the time we aired this we got an enormous amount of legal pushback…Now we see the full extent of Epstein’s friendship with the man he called “Petey”
The Mandelson saga gives a real and genuine ground for suggesting Starmer must go, as the judgment involved in appointing Mandelson is seen to be wanting, politically, factually and morally. And, I should think there is no shortage of Labour people, to say nothing of media and oppositions, who will give the process a hand if they can.
As others have said, the focus will now move on to Starmer. Colossal misjudgment
Late May 2027 to beat the shortest serving Labour PM Brown
18th August 2027 to beat Boris
How on earth can Andrew be called out (rightly) and Mandelson think he is somehow not the same
Streeting probably is now amongst the PLP but is a Starmer loyalist
Dismissing it as an issue raised to stoke a race war should be no part of your response.
But also, we get the politicians we deserve. Partly because of the media culture we all lap up, partly because we're happy for other people to be paid a lot more for a lot less hassle.
And in the end... We sometimes muse here about how we could do a better job than the fools in Westminster. But there's a big space between that and doing it. I let my Conservative party membership lapse because the party got too awful. But the price of not participating is being ruled by our inferiors.
If they asked for my recommendation.
Work the shit out of them till the coming implosion
I can’t get my head around it. Such a monumental unforced error
Who made the decision? Who saw the vetting and said Yeah that’s fine. Who asked Mandy about jeff and what did they hear?
We gonna need them.
Leadership looking after their mates, herded like sheep to vote for the right candidate, voting for things you dont agree with and no vision to say what it's all for or give you the chance to look for a light in the tunnel
Can't be having that from the Prince over the water.
Don't remember making the bet !! It's from Nov last year. 5/1