McFadden says PM made ‘mistake’ but acted in good faith on Mandelson appointment

MPs are shocked and angry at Mandelson – but they’re furious with Starmerpublished at 08:46 GMT

08:46 GMT

Laura Kuenssberg
Presenter, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg

It’s only six weeks since a smiling Keir Starmer told us: “I’ll be sitting in this seat by 2027” in his interview to mark the start of the year.

The bald truth now? It is hard to find anyone in Labour who convincingly agrees.

The prime minister is not responsible for Peter Mandelson’s behaviour. But it was his decision to take a chance on him. Being furious now doesn’t erase the initial choice, and each seedy email makes it seem a bigger and bigger mistake.

Yes, MPs are shocked and angry with Peter Mandelson. But they are also angry with the prime minister.

The real problem for Starmer is that the fury this week is both a proxy, and a prompt, for stoking months of simmering unhappiness about the government. And it’s spread far beyond the chorus of usual critics, making the PM’s vow to be in the chair this time next year seem like a lifetime ago.

Talking to MPs, ministers and party backers, it’s getting more and more common to hear the weary conclusion that Starmer will later, or sooner perhaps, have to go.