Starmer Stays Defiant as Mandelson Saga Continues to Swirl

Prime Minister Keir Starmer insists he’ll remain in the job and lead the Labour Party into the next elections, even as the controversy over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US refuses to die down.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Starmer dismissed speculation he’ll be forced to resign or that he’ll face a leadership challenge as “talk.” While once again acknowledging that the appointment of Mandelson was a mistake, he expressed frustration at how the scandal is overshadowing the “urgent” issues facing his government.