How Keir Starmer survived Peter Mandelson scandal – and why he's living on borrowed time
The Prime Minister used the sacking of the Foreign Office’s most senior civil servant as a way of deflecting political criticism of his actions
“It’s not a case of if, it's when.” Labour MP Jonathan Brash likely spoke for many members of his party when he spoke about Keir Starmer’s likely departure from office.
The scandal over Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US despite essentially failing the security vetting may not have forced the Prime Minister to resign, but the manner of his escape from this fate has been a source of considerable dismay.
The sacking of Olly Robbins, the Foreign Office’s most senior civil servant, saw him used as a sacrificial lamb to deflect political criticism away from the Prime Minister. However, if anything, Robbins’ only ‘crime’ appears to have been an excess of loyalty.
An effective civil servant
Downing Street was clearly determined Mandelson should get the job and his appointment was announced before the vetting was complete. If Robbins had then told the Prime Minister there was a problem, Starmer’s judgment would have been called into question in a very public way.
Starmer’s treatment of Robbins will have alienated other civil servants and the resulting breakdown of trust may damage the government. Furthermore, Robbins appears to have been an effective civil servant whose loss will be felt by the Foreign Office.
The whole affair adds to a growing list of Starmer’s missteps. He has done reasonably well on foreign matters – working hard to placate Donald Trump, while standing up to him when necessary – but domestically he has been a walking accident.
On the question of when he will go, the obvious answer would appear to be after the May 7 elections in which Labour is expected to perform particularly badly, with Starmer’s unpopularity clearly a factor.
Given the bookies’ favourites to replace him are Wes Streeting, who might struggle to make things much better, and Angela Rayner, who could make them even worse, Labour may start to wonder how quickly Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham can be found a Westminster seat.
However, any delay could prove catastrophic. Labour may have a large Commons majority but they are losing the country and need to realise that, like the Conservatives, they are in a real fight to preserve their party as a major force in British politics.
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