Starmer in Crisis After Mandelson Scandal Roars Back to Life

In recent weeks, Keir Starmer had capitalized on crisis abroad to shore up his position as Britain’s prime minister. New details about his appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US are rekindling doubts about his grip on power at home.

Starmer was forced to acknowledge on Thursday that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office had granted Mandelson security clearance last year over the objections of vetting officials. The revelation left him facing calls from opposition leaders to resign, as members of his own Labour Party privately conceded that the premier would have to step down if he was found to have known about any cover-up.