herro

[Andrew Neil @afneil]

My monologue on today’s Times at One with Andrew Neil:

TIME FOR KEIR STARMER TO DO THE HONOURABLE THING

The country woke up this morning to find Keir Starmer still Prime Minister. But maybe not for much longer. 

The Prime Minister woke to a banner headline on the front page of the Guardian: ‘It’s over for Starmer, say Labour MPs’. 

There’s no shortage of similar headlines in all the other papers. But for Labour’s house paper to lead with one in such stark terms is pretty ominous for the PM’s prospects. 

It does feel like the end of days for Starmer’s premiership. 

Exactly how and when it will end is still unclear. But the growing consensus in Westminster is that it is only a matter of time — and sooner rather than later.  

No Labour leader has ever been forced out by a leadership challenge. Though we do live in unprecedented times. It would be swiftest and cleanest if Starmer was simply to resign. But there is no sign, yet, that he’s ready to fall on his sword. 

But the fact his future is the only story in town cripples the government’s ability to govern. The drums of war beat off the coast of Iran, peace looks as far away as ever in Ukraine and the British economy badly needs pepping up. But all time and effort is focussed on the PM’s survival. 

That’s not going to change. 

The welter of documents about to dribble out dealing with Peter Mandelson’s vetting — or lack thereof — will likely contain a veritable arsenal of smoking guns for the PM. 

The South Manchester by-election on February 26th looks like another nail in his political coffin — if he survives that long. 

Reform had been less than confident about winning. But the Mandelson scandal has confirmed the worst about Britain’s current governing class, which shoe-horned Mandy into Washington but stopped Andy Burnham from running in Groton and Denton. That’s catnip to Reform’s electoral pitch. 

Moreover the PM’s position is increasingly untenable.

He admitted yesterday he’d known Mandelson had maintained links with Epstein even after his conviction but still made him US ambassador. That is being depicted as a catastrophe for the PM. But we knew it already. 

What is more of a problem for Starmer is that he’s now reduced to saying yes, I knew he had stayed friends with a pedophile, I just didn’t know how friendly. It’s not a good look. Any links, even tenuous ones, should have counted Mandelson out. They didn’t. 

Then there’s the failure to vet properly. Starmer maintains that Mandelson lied and lied about his relationship with Epstein. Which is almost certainly true. But that hardly excuses someone who was once the country’s chief prosecutor and presumably trained to sniff out deceit and dissembling. 

Starmer is always boasting about his time as a prosecutor. He’s not boasting now. 

We know Starmer did put some questions to Mandelson about his Epstein connections. But he did so through his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, the very man who was pressing Mandelson’s case to be our man in Washington. 

That’s as big a lapse in judgment by Starmer as his decision to appoint him in the first place. 

The government is now like a rabbit caught in the headlights. Paralysed by the leadership issues swirling around the boss, despite the growing list of serious matters requiring attention. 

The decent thing to do would be to resign, salvaging an element of his dignity in the process. He did, after all, come to power promising a new integrity, even morality in government after too much Tory sleaze. 

Instead, he is presiding over the biggest political scandal to rock Britain since the Profumo Affair over 60 years ago. That led to the resignation of the then Tory PM, Harold Macmillan. Keir Starmer should do the honourable thing and follow suit.

[Politics UK @PolitlcsUK]

🚨🎥 WATCH: Donald Trump says Sadiq Khan is a "nasty person" who has done a "terrible job" as London Mayor

Starmer: "He’s a friend of mine actually"

[Kemi Badenoch @KemiBadenoch]

Labour had a chance to admit they got it wrong. Instead, Keir Starmer told Bridget Phillipson to gaslight the Commons with a shameless rewrite of history — pretending Labour had always been on the side of women. Nobody bought it.

They claimed the govt accepts the Supreme Court ruling — yet Labour, SNP, and Lib Dem MPs queued up to attack it. One even called for puberty blockers to be brought back for children.

They refused to criticise their unions who vow to ignore the law.
Refused to apologise to Rosie Duffield.
Refused to recognise the bravery of JK Rowling or Sharron Davies.

I’ve always known what a woman is. I didn't need a Supreme Court ruling to say so. And under my leadership, the Conservative Party will hold this government to account 👇

[herro @JamesHealey2]

@AvantiWestCoast hi there weird request but I can’t find anyone to help -I’m on the 1530 to Glasgow central and it’s hotter than a sauna and to stop everyone stripping off can you get someone to turn the heating down! Thank you

[herro @JamesHealey2]

@AvantiWestCoast hi there weird request but I can’t find anyone to help -I’m on the 1530 to Glasgow central and it’s hotter than a sauna and to stop everyone stripping off can you get someone to turn the heating down! Thank you 🙏

[herro @JamesHealey2]

Good to see @wmarybeard works in a lovely bookshop in the beautiful city of Cartagena, Colombia!

[herro @JamesHealey2]

@SouthernRailUK i’d forgotten just how bad southern trains smell when you get onboard. Like stepping into sewer on a hot day - what a welcome!

[Alan Smith @AlanJLSmith]

20 years in business and I’ve never known it like this.

- Entrepreneurs & their lawyers working around the clock to close their business sale before 30/10.

- Clients removing their tax-free cash from pensions

- Investors selling portfolios to crystallise gains

🤯

[herro @JamesHealey2]

@wmarybeard Hi Mary, I’m turning 40 next month(!) and heading to Rome to celebrate - just wondering what words of wisdom the Romans would give to those celebrating a big birthday? Thanks!

[herro @JamesHealey2]

Good to see @wmarybeard new book has made it to the @museiincomune Capitoline Museum, it’s also keeping me company on my travels around Rome!

[herro @JamesHealey2]

@FreddieBailey96 He’s right..

[herro @JamesHealey2]

@RepublicStaff cracking coronation concert! #GodSaveTheKing

[herro @JamesHealey2]

@francesbarber13 Bahahahaha

[frances Barber @francesbarber13]

Hahaha

[herro @JamesHealey2]

Ordered @Lucy_Worsley lovely new book on the wonderful Agatha Christie and by the looks of it you get the lady herself! Clever Amazon!

[herro @JamesHealey2]

@LinkedInHelp hi there I’m trying to contact LinkedIn to speak to someone about my account - how can I do this? Have tried FAQ etc

[herro @JamesHealey2]

@AvantiWestCoast Hi Lauren it’s the 12:21 Euston - Glasgow, E75 thanks!

[herro @JamesHealey2]

@AvantiWestCoast another beautifully clean, late, train

[herro @JamesHealey2]

@TVNaga01 please stop interrupting @grantshapps and give him a chance of saying something! He can’t get a word in!