Newslinks for Thursday 5th February 2026

Starmer crisis 1) PM fights for his future over Mandelson scandal

“Sir Keir Starmer and his chief of staff are fighting for their political futures after the prime minister admitted he was warned about Lord Mandelson’s friendship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein before appointing him as ambassador to the US. Starmer told the Commons that he was aware of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein, including the fact that the peer stayed at the financier’s Manhattan apartment while he was in jail for child prostitution offences. Starmer claimed that Mandelson had “lied” about the depth and extent of his relationship with Epstein, but the prime minister faced a backlash from his own MPs. One cabinet minister said the appointment of Mandelson was “very hard to defend” and was “yet another self-inflicted wound”. – The Times

• Starmer engulfed in leadership speculation as he backtracks over Mandelson papers – FT
• Labour MPs say Starmer’s days are numbered amid fury over Mandelson – Guardian
• Starmer in grave peril – Daily Mail
• PM fights desperate last stand – Daily Express
• Mutinous Labour MPs taking control of party – The Sun
• Starmer ‘shakes’ with ‘anxiety’ – Daily Express
• Pressure grows on McSweeney over Mandelson ambassador appointment – FT
• How Mandelson’s protege became Starmer’s right-hand man – Daily Telegraph
• The ex-minister in charge of the Mandelson files – Daily Telegraph

Comment

• Disowned by his MPs, despised by the public, Starmer must know the game is up – Gordon Rayner, Daily Telegraph
• These are the humiliating death throes of Starmer’s sordid regime – Allister Heath, Daily Telegraph
• Starmer seriously, if not yet fatally, wounded – Editorial, The Sun
• Starmer’s stock answers don’t work when the cock-up is this painful – Tim Stanley, Daily Telegraph
• Mandelson’s treachery has revived the sulphurous rage of Brown – Tom Harris, Daily Telegraph
• Mandelson was out of his depth with Epstein – Juliet Samuel, The Times

Starmer crisis 2) Rayner leads Labour MPs in revolt against Starmer

“Angela Rayner has forced Sir Keir Starmer into an about-turn over his handling of the Lord Mandelson scandal. The Prime Minister’s own MPs are calling for him to consider his position after the planned release of documents relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as Britain’s ambassador to the US descended into chaos. The files were set to be released by the Prime Minister’s most senior civil servant. But in a severe blow to Sir Keir’s authority, Downing Street was forced to hand the process to Parliament’s intelligence and security committee (ISC) after Ms Rayner and senior Labour MPs insisted No 10 should not decide what material is published.” – Daily Telegraph

• Mandelson’s web of influence inside the Labour Party – The Times
• Epstein told Mandelson he was hiring strippers to celebrate prison release – Daily Telegraph
• What Starmer knew – The Times
• Mandelson offered to help Epstein get Russian visa, documents suggest – BBC News
• Farage calls for EU to investigate Mandelson’s time in Brussels – FT

>Yesterday:

No 10 confident Trump won’t block Chagos Islands deal

“Downing Street believes that it is close to securing renewed support from the US for its deal to hand back the Chagos Islands to Mauritius despite President Trump labelling the plan an “act of great stupidity”. The president appeared to withdraw his support for the proposal during the row over Greenland, despite having endorsed the plan last year. His change of heart threatened the future of the deal, and ministers privately conceded that the islands could not be returned without America’s blessing because of the importance of the Diego Garcia military base. The Tories have also been lobbying members of the administration to block the handover of the islands, warning that it could allow China a strategic foothold in the islands.” – The Times

Streeting to offer resident doctors bigger pay rise to end dispute

“Wes Streeting is to offer resident doctors a bigger pay rise than other NHS staff as part of a new package of measures to try to end their long-running dispute. The health secretary also plans to guarantee resident doctors in England that hospitals will be fined if they do not give them good working conditions, such as rest areas and access to hot food. Streeting is looking at making a series of improvements to previous offers he has made, which may persuade the British Medical Association (BMA) to call off its nearly three-year-long campaign of industrial action.” – Guardian

Ban on illegal migrants taking taxis to hospital comes into force

Illegal migrants have been banned from taking costly taxis to hospital — as Labour admits small boat numbers may still rise. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has put a stop to the cabs perk following a public outcry. But she was also forced to concede that there was no guarantee Channel small boat crossings would fall this year. Taxpayers are forking out £16 million a year on transport for hotel migrants on top of accommodation costs. One asylum seeker took a taxi 250 miles to see a GP. From today, cabs will be allowed only for the pregnant and those with physical disabilities and they will require sign-off from the Home Office.” – The Sun

• Ban on asylum seekers taking taxis to medical appointments comes into force – Daily Mail

Farage’s two-day trip to Davos cost more than £50,000, documents reveal

“Nigel Farage’s two-day trip to Davos cost more than £50,000 after he was given two guest passes by an Iranian-born billionaire, documents show. The Reform UK leader officially declared his attendance at the conference on the register of MPs’ interests, after giving speeches at the Switzerland summit in which he pledged to “put the global elites on notice”. Despite previously having dismissed the World Economic Forum as a jaunt for “globalists”, Farage also accepted £1,100 of luxury hotel accommodation from the conference organisers.” – Guardian

• Companies House should probe origins of £200,000 gift to Reform, senior MP says – FT
• Reform councillor steps down as head of Kent’s cost-cutting drive – FT

Other political news

• Connolly’s racial hatred charge was fast-tracked – Daily Telegraph
• Palestine Action activists acquitted amid ‘jury tampering’ claims – The Times
• Sanctions having ‘significant impact’ on Russian economy – Guardian

And finally, A mouse scurries behind Badenoch during Peston interview

“As the Mandelson scandal engulfs the Government, Kemi Badenoch had a prime moment on television to capitalise for the Tories. But it was a surprise guest who stole the show – a mouse scurrying in the background. The Conservative leader was caught unawares during an ITV interview with Robert Peston on Wednesday, when she demanded that Sir Keir Starmer release information about the appointment of Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the US. Mrs Badenoch appeared not to notice the rodent dashing out from behind a table in her Westminster office as she told Mr Peston that Labour “had to give in” over the fallout from a tranche of files detailing Lord Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.” – Daily Telegraph

News in Brief