Keir Starmer is set to meet with his top ministers for a Cabinet session today amidst renewed controversy surrounding the Peter Mandelson scandal. A significant batch of documents released recently revealed the former US Ambassador’s critical remarks about Starmer’s leadership and the Prime Minister’s perceived lack of energy. Within these over 1,000 pages of files, there were exchanges where Starmer’s close ally, Pat McFadden, expressed frustration with fellow Labour members to Lord Mandelson.
The focus now shifts to McFadden, who serves as the Work and Pensions Secretary, as he joins the Cabinet gathering at Downing Street. In conversations with Mandelson, McFadden raised concerns about the Prime Minister’s position during a previous benefit cuts dispute, indicating a sense of unease for Starmer.
McFadden, who is evaluating future benefit reforms, also highlighted discontent among Labour MPs pushing for higher taxes to support welfare programs. He criticized their approach, noting a consistent fixation on taxation to fund social benefits.
Defending McFadden’s stance, Nick Thomas-Symonds, Paymaster General and Cabinet Office Minister, praised him as a dedicated and steadfast minister with unwavering views on social security and welfare priorities.
On a different note, Thomas-Symonds addressed queries regarding his missing messages from the Mandelson files, attributing the loss to a distressing incident where his phone was stolen by individuals on mopeds. The theft led to the loss of not only his messages but also personal photos, creating a challenging situation for recovery.
Following the phone-related issues, further attention has been directed at Morgan McSweeney, the former chief of staff to the Prime Minister, who faced similar challenges with his inaccessible messages due to a stolen phone.
Starmer had parted ways with Lord Mandelson back in September 2025 amidst mounting pressure over leaked emails showing Mandelson’s support for Jeffrey Epstein during his legal troubles. Subsequently, MPs passed a resolution earlier this year compelling the disclosure of documents related to Mandelson’s tenure as ambassador, leading to upcoming debates on this matter.
Labour MPs have reportedly expressed a subdued mood in reaction to the recent developments, with some questioning the effectiveness of calls for unity in light of critical messages from cabinet members. The prevailing sentiment suggests a waiting game as events unfold.
The unfolding scenario occurs against the backdrop of an unofficial leadership contest, with Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting emerging as potential successors to Starmer. Burnham, currently serving as Greater Manchester Mayor and eyeing a return to parliamentary roles, capitalized on the Mandelson files to criticize the impact on public trust in the political system.
Stay updated on the latest regarding the Mandelson files through our live blog. For quick access to valued news content, select Daily Mirror as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News.
