Co-conspirators will have noticed Starmer and his ministers beginning to direct blame onto the officials responsible for vetting Mandelson. Shameless…
This is a deliberate strategy. Guido hears after this week’s crisis meetings senior Downing Street are attempting to target FCDO permanent secretary Olly Robbins for signing off on Mandelson’s appointment despite there being doubtful material in the vetting. The argument will be that it was a decision for him and not the PM. Which is complete b*******…
Guido hears Downing Street’s strategic masterminds are also looking for a way to put blame on the then head of the Propriety and Ethics team Darren Tierney. This is more difficult – a government source says “the diligence note made clear what was known at the time and it was Keir’s judgement…” Whether this wheeze will be swallowed by furious Labour MPs into the weekend is unclear…
Those familiar with Mandelson’s appointment process will remember that Morgan McSweeney went out of his way to push it through the blob – putting hours into meetings with the PET team and FCDO to get his mentor through the door. The people Morgan tried to sideline are now to be blamed…
There was a time not long ago when Starmer boasted about ‘carrying the can’ in any organisation that he leads. He said of his time with his staff as DPP: “When they made mistakes, I carried the can. I never turn on my staff and you should never turn on your staff… I will carry the can for mistakes of any organisation I lead.” Can anyone remember if his nose grew to the size of the Golden Gate Bridge when he said that…
Starmer’s position is not secure into the weekend. Labour MPs continue to call for him to sack his chief of staff and ‘Starmerism’ architect Morgan McSweeney over his close relationship to Mandelson and insistence that his mentor was given the ambassador job. While many Labour MPs have confined their criticisms to a barrage of anonymous quotes to Lobby hacks, a growing number are going on the record. So far the following backbenchers have called for the McIavelli’s sacking:
If McSweeney goes, Starmer’s days will be numbered…
Home Office minister Mike Tapp has doubled down on Starmer’s oblique blame of the security and vetting officials who quizzed Mandelson prior to his appointment as ambassador. Cowardly – they won’t like that…
Speaking on Sky News Tapp said:
“He wasn’t the vetting officer here… We do know that there were lies told during that vetting procedure. Now that’s not me saying putting any blame on anybody else. The government ultimately oversees this and makes the decision. And that’s why the apology is really important. And when we see the information laid out for the public, of course, we have to act on that and ensure that nothing like this can ever happen again… what we’ve got to bear in mind is that the apology Keir Starmer has given is that he was clearly lied to during that vetting process. And I trust that I trust the prime minister. Let’s see what comes out from the documents. I think transparency is vital government and that’s what we’re getting from this government.”
Tapp also laughably claimed Starmer had acted “quickly on this.” It’s always someone else’s fault – until it isn’t…
It’s another setback for Starmer’s Chagos deal as the enabling legislation has been delayed again. Government whips decided this afternoon they will not return the Bill before the February recess…
Meanwhile reports overnight that Trump has changed his mind and now backs the deal have come to nothing so far. Falling apart…
Remember what they said. Remember how gleeful they were.
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Speaking at his speech on how to achieve “progressive capitalism” Wes Streeting fired a dig and Andy Burnham:
“Bond markets are not bond villains and fiscal rules matter.”