Newslinks for Sunday 14th September 2025

Starmer appointed Mandelson without proper checks

“Sir Keir Starmer appointed Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the United States without fully vetting his links to Jeffrey Epstein. Downing Street confirmed the Labour grandee’s elevation to the role before formal security checks on him had begun, The Telegraph has established. At the time of the announcement in December, he had only been subject to light questioning on his relationship with the late financier and convicted paedophile. Prior to the announcement, the Prime Minister was handed a two-page dossier detailing publicly available information about his links to Epstein by the Cabinet Office’s ethics team. It is understood that Morgan McSweeney then emailed Lord Mandelson with three questions”. – Sunday Telegraph

• PM’s crisis deepens with new Mandelson revelations – Sunday Times
• How furious Mandelson has brought Starmer to the brink – Sunday Times
• Badenoch accuses Starmer of ‘lying’ over when he knew about Mandelson – Sun on Sunday
• Starmer hit with wave of anger – FT
• Pressure mounts on Starmer – FT
• Starmer on the brink – Sunday Express
• The showdown between Starmer and key aide – Mail on Sunday
• The inside story of how Starmer has (so far) won over Trump – Sunday Telegraph
• Corbyn adviser accuses Starmer of being in pay of Israel in ‘anti-Semitic rant’ – Sunday Telegraph
• The average Labour Party member? Remarkably like their leader – Sunday Times
• Does Burnham’s record in Manchester make him PM material? – Sunday Times
• The fortnight that rocked Starmer and put Burnham in the frame – Sunday Times
• Farage warns Burnham of humiliation – Mail on Sunday
• Rebels plot to get Burnham seat – Sun on Sunday

Comment

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Robinson protesters attack police

“Tommy Robinson’s supporters “kicked and punched” police officers during one of Britain’s largest ever Right-wing rallies, the Metropolitan Police has claimed. More than 100,000 people descended on central London for the “Unite the Kingdom” demonstration on Saturday. It was organised by Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. The Metropolitan Police said that as of 7.30pm, 25 people had been arrested for offences including affray, violent disorder, assaults and criminal damage. Many of the protesters gathered on Whitehall, where they heard a series of speeches from Robinson as well as Katie Hopkins, Laurence Fox, and Elon Musk, who appeared via videolink.” – Sunday Telegraph

• Far Right London rally sees record crowds – Observer
• Musk tells 110,000 Robinson protesters to ‘fight back’ – Sunday Times

Farage failed to register US trip for Trump fundraiser

“Nigel Farage appears to have broken parliamentary rules by failing to register a visit to the US where he headlined a $500-a-head fundraiser for President Trump. The Reform leader has not revealed who paid for the trip or reported any earnings he may have received after flying to Tallahassee, the state capital of Florida, in March. Farage missed prime minister’s questions and used time before his party’s local election campaign to appear as the “special guest” at an event hosted by the Republican Party of Florida. According to promotional material for the Disruptors Dinner, guests could pay up to $25,000 for a “Trump Sponsor” hospitality package. This included a ticket to a VIP reception hosted by Farage and a photo opportunity with the Clacton MP.” – Sunday Times

• Britain’s white working-class young men are flocking to Reform – Sunday Telegraph

Former Labour leader to benefit from trust loophole that reduces inheritance tax

“Lord Kinnock stands to benefit from a trust that reduces inheritance tax despite publicly calling for levies on personal wealth, The Telegraph can reveal. The peer and former Labour leader recently called for a wealth tax on anyone with assets over £10m. However, his family has privately taken steps to pay less in inheritance tax when he passes away. A copy of his late wife’s will seen by The Telegraph reveals that Lord Kinnock is a beneficiary of a trust of up to £325,000 that could save his estate thousands of pounds normally payable under the divisive 40pc tax. Tax experts said the trust could benefit his estate in a range of ways, including protecting investment gains, lowering property values and providing an extra allowance if he remarried – all of which would slash the inheritance tax bill.” – Sunday Telegraph

Translations for non-English speaking patients costs NHS spends £130k a day

“NHS translation and interpretation spending has more than doubled over the past five financial years, Telegraph analysis can reveal. In the financial year of 2020-21, NHS trusts and integrated care boards (ICBs) spent £31m on translation and interpretation, according to figures obtained through freedom of information requests. By 2024-25, the cost of these services reached £64m – more than double the sum spent during the pandemic. Analysis of the data reveals that it costs taxpayers more than £133,000 each day to fund these services.” – Sunday Telegraph

White House vows to ‘dismantle radical Left’ after Kirk killing

“The White House has vowed to “dismantle” the “radical Left” after Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Stephen Miller, Donald Trump’s deputy chief of staff, pledged to crack down on Left-wing groups accused of “fomenting violence” after Kirk, 31, was killed by a gunman who expressed anti-fascist views. The charismatic conservative influencer and close ally of Donald Trump was shot dead on Wednesday by a sniper who lay in wait on a rooftop 130 metres from where Kirk was hosting a Turning Point Action USA event at Utah Valley University. Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested for the killing on Thursday evening, while casings of the murder weapon were said by the FBI to have been inscribed with messages including, “Hey fascist! Catch!” – Sunday Telegraph

Other political news and comment

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