Peter Mandelson admitted he continued his relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein for many years during his vetting interview. The former senior Labour adviser was sacked as the UK Ambassador to the US on Thursday morning, less than 24 hours after the Prime Minister defended him in the Commons.Allies of Mandelson said he told interviewers in the vetting process that he had carried on his relationship with the notorious paedophile for many years and deeply regretted doing so.Lord Mandelson’s sacking came after emails showed “the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment”, the Foreign Office said.He was reported to have told Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and told him “I think the world of you” the day before the disgraced financier began his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008.Lord Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein had been known about, but Bloomberg and The Sun published emails showing that the relationship continued after his crimes had emerged.One cabinet minister told The Times: “It was obvious from the start that he [Mandelson] was the wrong choices…It was just a matter of time. It’s so damaging.”Several Labour’s MPs openly took aim at the Prime Minister’s handling of the scandal. Liverpool Wavertree MP Paula Barker, who initially stood for the party’s deputy leadership, criticised the “delay” in dismissing Mandelson. She said: “The delay in sacking him has only served to further erode the trust and confidence in our government and politics in the round…We must be better.”Lord Mandelson’s deputy, James Roscoe, will be the interim ambassador to the US and has taken over with immediate effect.The Conservatives called for full disclosure on who in Downing Street knew what about Lord Mandelson’s links with Epstein, while the Liberal Democrats demanded a review of vetting procedures.FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…
Former Conservative Adviser Oscar Reddrop believes that Keir Starmer’s Labour Government ‘is done’
UK economic growth FLATLINES in hammer blow to Labour’s core manifesto pledge
Britain’s economy flatlined in July after a mere 0.4 per cent expansion in June, the Office for National Statistics has said.In a hammer blow to Labour’s core manifesto pledge, the economy recorded zero growth for the last month on record.”Kickstart economic growth” was the first of the party’s five key pledges ahead of last year’s General Election.READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
Morgan McSweeney pushed for Keir Starmer to hire Mandelson
Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney was pushing for the Prime Minister to hire Lord Mandelson as US Ambassador.A party source told Politico: “Everyone was like, this is looking really bad for the Prime Minister and Morgan was like, no, we need to defend him.”One Labour insider told the Mail “Morgan was very insistent”, with a backbench MP telling the i the Prime Minister “needs better advisers” while another told the Guardian that some in Downing Street “think it’s OK for their mates to do bad things.”
Fresh wave of sanctions placed on Russia
President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the drills | REUTERSBritain announced a new package of Russia-related sanctions on Friday, including 70 new specifications and 30 new designations, a government statement said.It comes as Russia and Belarus began a major joint military exercise on Nato’s doorstep on Friday that will involve drills in both countries and in the Baltic and Barents seas, the Russian defence ministry said.The “Zapad-2025” exercise – a show of force by Russia and its close ally, is taking place at an exceptionally tense moment in the Russia-Ukraine war, two days after Poland, with support from its NATO allies, shot down suspected Russian drones over its airspace.
Nigel Nelson says questions for Keir Starmer ‘will not end here’
GB News Senior Political Commentator Nigel Nelson said questions for the Prime Minister “will not end here.”Describing him as the “best political brains I have ever encountered”, Nigel described how he fired Mandelson during his time editing the Sunday PeopleHe added: “Peter’s problem is that he is not so good at advising himself.”GB NEWS MEMBERS CAN READ NIGEL’S ANALYSIS HERE.
Keir Starmer has got just SIX MONTHS to prove he has got the right stuff to be PM, claims Labour peer
Sir Keir Starmer has six months to prove that he has got what it takes to be Prime Minister, a leading Labour peer who is close to figures in 10 Downing Street has said.Lord Glasman, the founder of the Blue Labour group which represents Labour supporters in areas targeted by Reform UK, told Chopper’s Political Podcast that Mr Starmer “may or may not” survive as leader at the next election expected in 2029.The peer said: “What I see with him is that he genuinely wants to be a national leader… he’s making a drastic transition from being basically a human rights lawyer to being a national politician, being a Prime Minister.READ THE FULL STORY HERE.