Downing Street is insisting Mandelson’s £75,000 severance payout did not contradict the government’s own official guidance on public sector exit payouts, which makes clear payouts should not be used to soften reputational damage. Speaking at the Lobby briefing of press hacks this afternoon:
“[Mandelson’s payout was] Treasury-approved severance in line with standard HMT guidance and civil service practices…”
Right… here is the official guidance in question:
“Departments should not use special severance payments as an easy alternative to proper management action, e.g., to avoid difficult decisions, disciplinary processes, unwelcome publicity, or reputational damage.”
The Foreign Office’s HR boss Mark Power is quite clear in emails released in the Mandelson Files: “There is a potential, that absent a positive indication, Peter goes public on some of his claims so there is some urgency [to reach a settlement]”. Number 10 is now demanding Mandelson hands the cash over to charity, although admits it is ultimately ‘a matter for him’. So the odds of that happening are approximately zero…
UPDATE: Starmer announces RAF to send four more Typhoons to Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar. The first charter flight to evacuate British citizens took off from Oman this afternoon. He also admitted he hasn’t spoken to Donald Trump since Saturday…
Starmer said online:
“I know that the situation in the Middle East is worrying for people across the UK and in the region… I’ll be giving an update on the action we continue to take to protect lives and bring British nationals back home.”
An attempt to wrest back some narrative control…
As February comes to an end No10 is shoring up plans for a reshuffle to keep Starmer in power for as long as possible. Guido reported extensively on these intentions back at the beginning of the month…
It is still early doors because Gorton & Denton and the May elections have not yet taken place. The extent of the hit Starmer takes from those will decide the outcome of whatever reshuffle efforts – or indeed lead to a Labour regicide…
After internally discussing whether to sack Wes Streeting as a one-off three weeks ago Downing Street sources say reshuffle plans include a removal of the ambitious leadership contender, a “disloyal and disruptive” minister who has to be “tackled” – a senior Labour source adds: “We need someone at Health who isn’t thinking about personal ambition.”
There is no current plan for ministerial moves prior to May or just after Gorton & Denton. If Starmer is strong enough No10 staff plan to move left in terms of appointments but avoid giving the soft left a go at the Treasury. That means retaining Reeves or replacing her with compromise candidate to satisfy left-wing bloodlust. Markets, markets, markets…
A Downing Street source said the shape of a reshuffle “depends on how febrile it is after May.” A Labour wipeout would leave Starmer with little leverage…
Much also depends on new Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo, who survived a blob-led campaign against her appointment. Downing Street now regards her as safe. As Guido has tracked across many months it is the Cabinet Office which is failing on numerous cylinders. The clock is ticking to fix that one…
Downing Street is punting all questions relating to the ludicrous investigation into the Labour Together smear scandal over to the Cabinet Office. Speaking at the Lobby briefing of political hacks this afternoon, the Number 10 spokesman refused to reveal which individuals are leading the ‘fact-finding mission’, when that ‘mission’ is expected to conclude, why the Cabinet Office is investigating the issue in the first place (given the central figure is a Cabinet Office minister), and even whether Josh Simons has recused himself from the probe. All these questions produced a near-identical response: “The Cabinet Office has more details”…
Except the Cabinet Office is also keeping shtum, even when asked to provide a few more of those “details” which Number 10 suggested it would provide. It’s a “fact-finding mission“, and… that’s it. Total cover-up…
Here we go again. Whoever gets it better not value job security…
Guido looks forward to doing this yet again in a couple of months. Candidates who miss out on the gig this time shouldn’t be too upset…
A new job advert has popped up on the government’s website as Starmer’s leadership implodes: ‘Deputy Director for the Prime Minister’s Media Strategy’. Who will want to take that on…
The role offers a cushy £81-117,800 annual salary, alongside a pension contribution of 28.9%. The (un)lucky hire will be tasked with leading “digital-first news creation” and ensure “No10 comms has the appropriate blend of digital, traditional and non-traditional media”. There’s a long list of benefits including “interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel” and access to “fitness centres” to sweeten the deal. Guido’s noticed Starmer’s TikTok has been looking a little dry as of late…
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.”