OT This rotten Govt.Yet more scandal.

[KerrAvon]

I think it's a reach to suggest the Mandy appointment is the worst judgment call since WMDgate. Cameron bowing down on the referendum, Clegg giving students up, and Boris (take your pick!) happened between those.

Quite.

[animallittle3]

I think it's a reach to suggest the Mandy appointment is the worst judgment call since WMDgate. Cameron bowing down on the referendum, Clegg giving students up, and Boris (take your pick!) happened between those.

I did say a Labour PM , your other examples were not Labour PM's .

[Spuddy Speight]

So, PM Sir Keir Starmer says he's "furious" about Mandelson being appointed as British Ambassador to the United States, without his knowledge, by someone else.
Mandelson failed vetting process and Starmer didn't know.
Really?


"Prime Minister Keir Starmer appointed Peter Mandelson as the British Ambassador to the United States in December 2024, with the appointment taking effect on February 10, 2025. The appointment was approved by King Charles III on the recommendation of Starmer and the Foreign Secretary. "
BBC
BBC
+2
Then ..
"In April 2026, The Guardian reported that, in January 2025, during the process of his appointment as ambassador to the United States, Mandelson failed his developed vetting (DV) conducted by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV). A formal decision to deny him security clearance was issued on 28 January 2025."
So, Mandelson appointment made before he had been properly vetted in spite of his shocking track record in government.


Starmer says he's going to make a statement in Parliament on Monday 20th April 2026. Starmer wants "transparency".
Oh, really?

"The Foreign Affairs Committee has written to Sir Olly Robbins, former Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom, to request he give evidence next Tuesday (21 April) on the vetting of Lord Mandelson."

"Sir Olly and Sir Chris Wormald, then-Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, previously appeared in front of the Committee to give evidence on the vetting and clearance of Lord Mandelson."

Sir Olly is another civil servant thrown under the bus.

[animallittle3]

Playing for time and the government going in to managing the crisis mode and damage limitation are the only show in town right now .

This might be a different thing altogether if Starmer had a natural successor and some political head wind could be gained out of this scandal , the Tories are very good at replacing their leader and getting rid of the problems of the day with it even if only in the short term .

No such successor to Starmer exists as far as I can see and no rebellion is likely to emerge to oust Starmer unless it's almost a certainty to be successful and nobody in the PLP is going to risk that with the chance their own political career goes down with it .

Starmer may see this one out yet unless something massively damaging emerges that can't be managed , not beyond the realms of possibility given The Guardian are on a bit of a roll right now .

I suspect they may well be bullets left in The Guardian gun .

[Spuddy Speight]

Playing for time and the government going in to managing the crisis mode and damage limitation are the only show in town right now .

This might be a different thing altogether if Starmer had a natural successor and some political head wind could be gained out of this scandal , the Tories are very good at replacing their leader and getting rid of the problems of the day with it even if only in the short term .

No such successor to Starmer exists as far as I can see and no rebellion is likely to emerge to oust Starmer unless it's almost a certainty to be successful and nobody in the PLP is going to risk that with the chance their own political career goes down with it .

Starmer may see this one out yet unless something massively damaging emerges that can't be managed , not beyond the realms of possibility given The Guardian are on a bit of a roll right now .

I suspect they may well be bullets left in The Guardian gun .

Lots of ammo left.

David Maddox, Political Editor from the Independent newspaper did send a WhatsApp message/request, dated 11th September 2025, to Tim Allan, former Director of Communications under Sir Keir Starmer.

"Hi, Tim I've been told by two sources now that Mandelson in fact did not clear vetting with MI6 but the PM pushed his appointment anyway. The problem was China not Epstein though. Is there any comment on this? David" Maddox. 14:06

Reply from Tim Allan
"Vetting done by FCDO'' 14:54 ( Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office )

Then "👍" from David Maddox

[sota]

What chance has the country got when there?s a protest by a group called Britain First and people are protesting against them? Says it all.
More boots on the ground today and almost every other day. Wonderful state of affairs.

[ragingpup]

What chance has the country got when there?s a protest by a group called Britain First and people are protesting against them? Says it all.
More boots on the ground today and almost every other day. Wonderful state of affairs.

Extremist positions on both sides should be shot as far as I'm concerned.. I'm a militant centrist.

[sota]

Well, that?s one word for it. How about the boots on the ground, does anybody care any more? As the great Quo once said, Roll Over Lay Down.

[animallittle3]

It can't be underestimated the task Labour inherited from 14 years of a Conservative government .

There wasn't going to be any quick solutions by any means but none the less I've never been convinced that Labour had any kind of plan what so ever to fix the country even in the longer term .

Winging it would probably be about as good as a strategy as they had .

Whether we agreed with her or we didn't when Thatcher inherited a country in poor shape in 1979 at least the woman had a plan , we may not have liked it or agreed with it but she did .

Attaining power for the sake of holding office seems to me to be the crux of it , vote for us we aren't the Tories was just about the only thing Labour had or were prepared to tell you pre election .

It seems that was indeed all they had , growth would just magically happen and deliver investment revenues , it's generally accepted that it's the other way round .

However the alternatives are suspect to say the least in my opinion , remarkably Labour may well be the best there is , that's a very low bar and not really acceptable and voting for anyone today is an astonishing thing to have to think about .

Which is why many have simply given up on it .

[animallittle3]

You literally couldn't make it up

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/19/mod-has-lost-track-of-veterans-on-recall-list-defence-adviser

[sota]

602 more boots on the ground yesterday and it doesn?t even make the news.

[Stansmate]

Just about to speak - the slimey sod will wriggle out of this - not me guv !!!

[MillerBill]

The disgusting Attorney General Lord Hermer, has been accused of a "witch hunt" against our own British soldiers.He persued compensation claims on behalf of Iraqi clients, despite apparently receiving warnings that their allegations were invented.These brave soldiers served with honour and many paid the ultimate sacrifice and they are being treated like this.It's a disgrace that he is still allowed to continue. SHAME ON YOU !!!!!!!!

[Spuddy Speight]

As a sideshow to the Mandelson Scandal there's a trial due to take place on 27th April 2026 in London involving Ukrainian gentlemen who were allegedly involved in arson attacks on the current PM's property.

Two houses and a car linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer were set on fire. At least four men have been arrested in connection with said attacks.

Will this be a trial without jury that the Government have been pushing?

[howdydoo]

As a sideshow to the Mandelson Scandal there's a trial due to take place on 27th April 2026 in London involving Ukrainian gentlemen who were allegedly involved in arson attacks on the current PM's property.

Two houses and a car linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer were set on fire. At least four men have been arrested in connection with said attacks.

Will this be a trial without jury that the Government have been pushing?

Not a chance.

Britain?s most politically charged criminal trial of the year opens at the Old Bailey on Monday 27 April, as three men face a jury over a series of arson attacks targeting properties connected to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.