Downing Street is in survival mode this morning as Labour MPs at all levels sound the alarm over Starmer’s shambolic handling of the Mandelson debacle. The Times, the Mail, and the Telegraph all splash with fiery warnings of an impeding leadership challenge unless Number 10 produces better answers over what Starmer knew and when. ‘Phase 2’ began two weeks ago today…
As Guido reported on Friday, Morgan McSweeney is the man in the firing line. Panicked weekend briefings attempted to insulate Starmer from the damage, claiming he was kept in the dark over much of the Mandelson mess. This isn’t cutting the mustard with government insiders this morning. One senior source simply told Guido “it’s a total sh*tshow“. Another said the mood is even worse now than last Friday. There are now whispers in Downing Street that McSweeney himself should watch his back…
Overnight the Tories published a public letter demanding answers on the links between Mandy and Epstein. Co-conspirators can read the full five questions below. Labour conference is in two weeks. Should be a fun one…
Read the questions in the Tories’ letter below:
1. On Monday, Bloomberg contacted Peter Mandelson with excerpts from the Mandelson/Epstein Files. These were then sent to the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and Downing Street. Were you aware before Prime Ministers Questions at midday on Wednesday, 10 September of the existence of the emails? Had you been briefed on their contents?
2. On Wednesday at 0809, in an interview with Harry Cole, Mandelson admitted that there was ‘a lot of traffic, correspondence changes between us [Mandelson and Epstein] absolutely. And we know those are going to surface’. You then told the House of Commons you had ‘confidence’ in Mandelson and ‘full due process’ was followed. Did you ask your staff at any point prior to appearing in the House of Commons for what more information might surface? Did you receive a briefing ahead of Prime Minister’s Questions regarding Mandelson and Epstein, and covering the Bloomberg emails?
3. Ministers have claimed new information came to light. What information did you find out as a result of reading the Bloomberg emails that you did not already know, and which was not already in the original vetting document?
4. It is understood that your Chief of Staff was in touch with Mandelson on Tuesday, whilst the Permanent Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth was awaiting a response to official inquiries. When did your Chief of Staff speak with Mandelson this week and what did he discuss with him?
5. Will you appear before the House of Commons, including any committee? Will you direct your Chief of Staff and other officials including the Cabinet Secretary and the Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office to give evidence? And will you publish all Mandelson/Epstein files held by the Government, including details of vetting conducted by the Cabinet Office and your Chief of Staff, so there can be full transparency on this crucial matter?
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