Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership is in crisis after he told MPs on Wednesday that Peter Mandelson was appointed US ambassador despite official security vetting flagging his continued contact with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Ministers and backbenchers are said to be “spooked” and are demanding that the PM fire his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, over his decision to push for Mandelson to be appointed.

But should Starmer go further and resign? The i Paper’s experts give their verdict.

Sir Keir Starmer’s authority is severely damaged, and Downing Street has to face the possibility that this scandal might lead to his downfall.

Yesterday’s PMQs incited significant anger among Labour MPs, even those receiving government salaries or normally loyal to the Prime Minister. A feeling of unavoidable doom is pervading Westminster amid the escalating briefing campaign against Starmer and his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.

What’s keeping Starmer in place is that the party wants to avoid a damaging internal debate in the run-up to May’s elections. Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has yet to settle her outstanding tax bill with HMRC and Wes Streeting needs to avoid being seen as the one who wields the knife.

Starmer – probably – limps on until after the elections make his departure inevitable.

Kitty........

© iNews