Newslinks for Monday 15th September 2025

Keir coup – No.10 scrambles to save Starmer

“Downing Street was on Sunday night scrambling to protect Keir Starmer as it emerged No 10 was aware of the fatal allegation against Lord Mandelson days before he was sacked. The Daily Mail understands that No 10 knew at the start of last week that the Labour grandee had suggested paedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged. But sources insisted that the Prime Minister was not informed before he expressed confidence in the then-US ambassador in the Commons on Wednesday. It came amid a deepening revolt over Sir Keir’s handling of the crisis, and growing speculation that the PM could be ousted before the next general election. Mutinous MPs yesterday warned that Sir Keir was ‘supping in the last-chance saloon’, while the Tories accused him of going ‘missing in action’ over the scandal. The Prime Minister is expected to break his ‘damning silence’ on the crisis on Monday, but on Sunday night Downing Street would not reveal who kept the information about Lord Mandelson from him. In the worst week of his premiership, Sir Keir sacked the Labour peer from his post as ambassador to the US. It came after emails were published showing that Lord Mandelson had sent supportive messages to Epstein even as he faced jail for sex offences. But it has emerged that Downing Street became aware of the damning correspondence on Tuesday – two days before he was sacked.  The Daily Mail can reveal No 10 was told then that the emails contained suggestions by Lord Mandelson that Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged. But sources insisted that the information, which came in a 2,000-word memo from Bloomberg News which was seeking comment from Lord Mandelson, was not shared with Sir Keir, who told MPs during Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions that he had ‘confidence’ in his man in Washington. Meanwhile, Foreign Office permanent secretary Sir Oliver Robbins, formerly Theresa May’s bungling Brexit chief, was seeking a response from Lord Mandelson about the emails, which only came later – on Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday morning, the Foreign Office said that the ‘suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information’ and that ‘in light of that… he has been withdrawn as ambassador with immediate effect’. The revelation adds to pressure on the PM’s all-powerful chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, with several MPs calling for him to be sacked. Questions are being asked whether it was Mr McSweeney who knew in Downing Street, and if not, who?” – Daily Mail

• Tories’ demand to Starmer: Tell us what you knew about Mandelson’s Epstein links – The i
• Starmer ‘in last-chance saloon’ as he pins hopes on Trump visit – The Times
• Keir Starmer warned he’ll be ‘gone in eight months’ in revolt from his own MPs – Daily Express

Comment:

• Keir Starmer has completely lost control of Labour – and 1 scandal proves it – Priti Patel, Daily Express
• This is just the beginning of Starmer’s nightmare – Anne McElvoy, The i
• One thing could save Starmer: Labour is useless at coups – Kamal Ahmed, Daily Telegraph
• Keir Starmer’s pressed the reset button so often he must have blisters – even his loyal supporters accept it’s over – David Wooding, The Sun

> Yesterday: The ‘Peter paradox’ and how Labour’s bad run could boost the Tories but also beg old questions

‘If what we’ve just outlined is correct, then the Prime Minister did lie’ – Trott

Labour’s benefit rebels rally around Burnham

“Labour’s benefits rebels have backed Andy Burnham in his challenge to Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership of the party. MPs who defeated the Prime Minister’s attempts at welfare reform told The Telegraph it was clear “this administration is coming to an end” and that Labour voters on the doorstep were calling for a new party leader. They are among MPs who have backed Mr Burnham after his allies set up Mainstream, a new soft-Left campaign group, and are calling on Downing Street to end the two-child benefit rule, introduce wealth taxes and nationalise utility companies. The Greater Manchester Mayor is expected to criticise Sir Keir explicitly at Labour’s annual party conference later in September, calling for a “reset” to help the party win the next general election. Mr Burnham, who would have to regain a seat in the Commons, is laying the groundwork for a leadership bid as speculation mounts that Sir Keir will not make it to the next public vote. The Prime Minister is facing warnings from within his party that he is “supping in the last-chance saloon” because of how he handled Lord Mandelson’s sacking as US ambassador and the resignation of Angela Rayner as deputy prime minister. He is under pressure to spell out what he knew about Lord Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and why he appointed him despite being presented with a Cabinet Office file about the peer’s links to the late convicted paedophile. The Prime Minister will face questions about the scandal on Monday as he seeks to revive his “reset” ahead of this week’s state visit by Donald Trump, announcing US-UK deals to build nuclear plants in Britain as part of a “golden age” of clean energy. This week will also see the first deportations of Channel migrants back to France under the one in, one out agreement Sir Keir signed with Emmanuel Macron, the French president, as well as the long-awaited Hillsborough law creating a legally enforceable duty of candour on public officials, including the police. However, Sir Keir is being warned by a growing number of MPs and trade union leaders that he has until May to turn around his Government’s fortunes, with allies eyeing Mr Burnham as the biggest threat.” – Daily Telegraph

• ‘Manc Mafia’ Labour rebels secretly plotting to get Andy Burnham seat as MP so he can challenge Starmer – The Sun
• Labour MPs warn Andy Burnham off ambition to replace Starmer – The Times
• Stick to Manchester, Andy! Starmer ally slaps down ex-Labour minister Burnham amid talk of a return to Westminster to topple embattled PM – Daily Mail

Comment:

• Is Andy Burnham making a premature bid for Labour leader? – Peter Franklin, Unherd

Up to 150,000 join Robinson’s march, as Musk’s comments are slammed

“Britain will “never surrender” to far-right protesters who use the English flag as cover for violence and to instil fear, Keir Starmer has said, condemning attacks against police officers and racist harassment. The prime minister said the St George’s flag “represents our diverse country” and he would not tolerate people being “intimidated on our streets because of their background or the colour of their skin”. MPs and anti-fascist groups had urged the prime minister to speak up against some of the rhetoric of the largest nationalist protest in decades, held in London and organised by the far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. The pressure on Downing Street to be more proactive in defence of diversity came after 10 days of widespread dissatisfaction from MPs over the handling of Angela Rayner’s resignation, the ensuing reshuffle and the sacking of the ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, over links to Jeffrey Epstein. In his first comment about Saturday’s march, Starmer said there was a right to peaceful protest but that violence and intimidation were unacceptable, and he condemned the appropriation of the St George’s flag by the far-right, anti-immigration protesters. “People have a right to peaceful protest. It is core to our country’s values,” the prime minister said in a statement to the Guardian. “But we will not stand for assaults on police officers doing their job or for people feeling intimidated on our streets because of their background or the colour of their skin.” He added: “Britain is a nation proudly built on tolerance, diversity and respect. Our flag represents our diverse country and we will never surrender it to those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division.” Police estimated that between 110,000 and 150,000 people attended the event on Saturday, which was addressed by Elon Musk. Musk told the crowd that “violence is coming” and that “you either fight back or you die”. He said: “I really think that there’s got to be a change of government in Britain. We don’t have another four years, or whenever the next election is, it’s too long. Something’s got to be done. There’s got to be a dissolution of parliament and a new vote held.”” – The Guardian

• Starmer tells Tommy Robinson he ‘will not surrender’ British flag to violence – Daily Telegraph
• Trump’s state visit will be one of UK’s biggest security operations amid copycat attack fears sparked by Kirk killing – The Sun
• Cabinet minister slams Elon Musk’s call to ‘fight back or die’ at Tommy Robinson’s London protest – The Standard
• Dozens of officers injured as up to 150,000 join Tommy Robinson rally – BBC News
• Bob Vylan appear to celebrate Charlie Kirk assassination – The Times

Comment:

• Free speech is not a privilege granted by the state – it is a birthright of every citizen – Kemi Badenoch, Daily Mail
• Tommy Robinson’s rally is a wake-up call to real patriots – Ian Birrell, The i
• Dismiss Unite the Kingdom march at your peril – Trevor Phillips, The Times
• Charlie Kirk’s killing and the reaction to it offer a bleak lesson on division – JJ Anisiobi, Daily Express

News in brief:

• What will Tommy Robinson do next? – Felix Pope, Unherd
• The power of fun – Daniel Inman, The Critic
• Whigs and Tories shaped modern Britain – Ronald Hutton, The New Statesman