Week three of ‘Phase 2’ is getting no easier for Starmer. Or his Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney…
McSweeney is becoming increasingly exposed via a blame game over the loss of his personal mentor Peter Mandelson – whom he attempted to keep in post as ambassador up until the end – and yesterday’s departure of Paul Ovenden, a well-respected crucial ally in No10. It is becoming lonely at the top…
The Tories’ success in securing an urgent three-hour debate in the Commons on the Mandelson issue will result in torture for Labour. A Downing Street source tells Guido that political staff spent all of yesterday and “all weekend trying to piece together an acceptable timeline to excuse the inexcusable,” adding that McSweeney’s “f**k-up is now causing untold damage.” What began as concerned whispers about the McIavelli has turned into a chorus…
Starmer’s position post-Mandelson sacking as first publicly stated yesterday is described by an insider as: “I only knew Mandelson was sort of fond of Epstein and if I knew he really liked him I wouldn’t have appointed him.” Farcical…
A Downing Street source tells Guido it is “shocking” for McSweeney to have left Starmer so exposed and “a lot of us are losing patience with him.” It has meanwhile been briefed that McSweeney is the driving brain behind a forthcoming meeting of ‘progressives’ in London for Starmer to get involved with. Wow…