The government has made Mandelson’s deputy James Roscoe, currently in DC as Deputy Head of Mission to the USA, the temporary British Ambassador. He’s starting today…
In the meantime Starmer’s spokesman told the Lobby briefing of political journalists that the process is now underway to appoint a new ambassador. Asked if it would be a political appointment Starmer’s spokesman said “the process is just beginning”…
Asked if the vetting process should include a section on staying at the homes of convicted paedophiles, Starmer’s spokesman said: “The vetting process is extensive.” The spokesman refused to say when Starmer last spoke to Mandelson and refused to say if the PM believes he was misled by him. While it is concurrently claimed that Mandelson himself didn’t have access to those old emails on a “long closed” email account the blame is put on Mandelson for the failure of the vetting process…
The insistence is that the relationship between Mandelson and Epstein has been shown to be “materially different” following Bloomberg’s email trove. Who is buying that…
The spokesman refused to “speculate” on whether Mandelson would be given another role or remain close to the Labour leadership. Wouldn’t put it past Starmer…
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”