Minister credits Starmer for ‘taking responsibility’ over Mandelson ahead of key meeting with Labour MPs – UK politics live

Jacqui Smith defends prime minister following resignation of Morgan McSweeney amid Mandelson scandalGood morning. One of the staples of political journalism these days (for better or for worse) is the “how damaging?” question. With Westminster preoccupied with the question of how long Keir Starmer can last as prime minister following the resignation of Morgan McSweeney, his chief of staff, yesterday in the light of the Peter Mandelson/Jeffrey Epstein scandal, here is a summary of how long other prime ministers were able to stay on after key advisers quit.Margaret Thatcher stayed in office, after the resignation of Alan Walters, for one year and one month.Tony Blair stayed in office, after the resignation of Alastair Campbell, for three years and 10 months.Gordon Brown stayed in office, after the resignation of Damian McBride, for one year and one month.Theresa May stayed in office, after the resignation of Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, for two years and one and a half months.Boris Johnson stayed in office, after the resignation of Dominic Cummings, for one year and 10 months.Johnson stayed in office, after the resignation of Munira Mirza, for seven months.The prime minister is taking responsibility. He took responsibility for the decision that was made about Peter Mandelson, although to be clear here it was of course Peter Mandelson that, in consistent lying and engagement with Jeffrey Epstein, let down the party and the government and the country. And I think that will become clearer as the information around the appointment is put out into the public domain.One riled MP forwarded Playbook a message the right-leaning Labour First faction has sent to backbenchers it reckons are loyal to Starmer, urging them to speak up in support at the PLP meeting. Talking points include how the PM “accepts his mistakes and apologises,” compared to the carousel of Tory leaders forced from office … and how the government is delivering on “many areas of incremental change.” Continue reading...