I know most on the left here don’t consider this to be a significant event but Mandelson’s betrayal shows how rotten to the core Blair and his cronies are and by extension Starmer’s government has become by introducing New Labour men into the heart of the present government.
from Dan Hodges (published Feb 8)
But what is not open for debate is the extent Russian intelligence had their hooks embedded into one of the PM’s closest political confidants. Or that this fact had been common knowledge for years throughout the British, US, and European security services.
‘I didn’t know’ has been the PM’s increasingly forlorn refrain since the Mandelson scandal broke. But how can he possibly not have know?
I suspect the answer relates to a conversation I had last week with a senior Whitehall security source. Reflecting anger within the Civil Service machine at Starmer’s attempts to blame vetting failures for the ongoing crisis, he pointed to the PM’s decision to despatch Morgan McSweeney – his chief of staff and a close personal friend of Mandelson’s – to question the prospective ambassador about his links to Jeffrey Epstein.
“If Starmer really wanted the full story, why didn’t he send an independent experienced member of the Propiety and Ethics Team to interview Mandelson? Why specifically choose one of Mandelson’s best mates?” he queried.
When Keir Starmer claims he didn’t know the full extent Mandelson had compromised – via both his links with Epstein and his connections to Russian security service assets – he’s dissembling. In reality he knew or suspected everything. But Starmer’s priority wasn’t the truth. It was ensuring the truth could be managed and manipulated in a way that enabled Mandelson’s appointment to proceed.
good luck to all
