Naturally after Mandelson went the focus shifted to Downing Street. Security staff were not going to let the line that there were no issues with Mandy’s appointment hold for long…
It’s not only Starmer’s judgement which has been called into question. Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney – a very close ally of Mandelson – is facing blame now. A Downing Street source tells Guido: “Morgan is in trouble. Mandy was all his idea, he pushed it. He went against advice and tried to keep him.” Terrible for Starmer…
McSweeney and Mandelson are said by insiders to have had a close political relationship and viewed themselves as the key ‘sensibles’ ariund Starmer. Both spoke to the other very frequently by phone and met when possible…
Lucy Powell on LBC, asked by Tom Swarbrick for her reaction to Labour MP Samantha Niblett’s call for a ‘summer of sex’ debate in Parliament: “I personally don’t own any sex toys, but each to their own… I’m not really sure that’s the right place for it, no.”