Summary
Overview
In this episode of Page 94, the panel dissects the political fallout from Peter Mandelson's resignation as UK ambassador to the USA following revelations in the Epstein files. The discussion explores Mandelson's history of scandals, the vetting failures that allowed his appointment, and the broader implications for Keir Starmer's government. The panel also examines lesser-known stories buried in the files, including cases involving other British political figures, and debates the future of Labour leadership amid plummeting public confidence.
The Mandelson Appointment: A Predictable Disaster
The panel opens by examining how Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador unraveled so predictably. They discuss the 'Peter Mandelson Principle' - coming back one time too many - and question how anyone could have been surprised by his involvement with wealthy, dodgy individuals given his track record of two previous resignations for similar conduct. The conversation reveals that appointing Mandelson was always going to end in scandal involving suspicious relationships with the rich and powerful.
- The 'Peter Mandelson Principle' - coming back one time too many in political life
- Mandelson had two previous resignations for suspicious relationships with wealthy people
- You can guarantee if you give Mandelson a job, he'll be involved with dodgy rich people and fail to declare it
- The scandal validates public prejudice about what politicians are up to - similar to MPs' expenses
- Labour was promised boring process and politics that treads lightly, but hasn't delivered
" I've come up with a new principle of political life. You know the thing of the Peter Principle, where everyone is employed one degree more than they should be? This is the Peter Mandelson Principle, where you come back one time after you really should be. "
" I would say three is three times too many. "
The Labour Psychodrama: From Corbyn to Blairism
Helen Lewis provides crucial context about how Labour arrived at this point, tracing Keir Starmer's journey from his apolitical background through his positioning during the Corbyn era to his surprise pivot toward Blairism. She explains how Starmer, lacking institutional memory from Labour's long opposition, staffed up with Blair-era veterans including Mandelson, creating a bizarre déjà vu for those who covered Blair's government and ultimately setting the stage for familiar scandals.
- Starmer was fairly apolitical before entering politics and rose by attaching himself to Brexit as shadow secretary
- In the 2020 leadership election, Starmer presented himself as barely different from Corbyn, not as a radical departure
- Through Morgan McSweeney, Starmer brought in a Blairite agenda to staff roles because Labour lost institutional memory
- Key Blairites brought back include Tim Allen, Alan Milburn, Jonathan Powell, and Matthew Doyle
- The Starmer Project essentially bought in Blairism as a way of staffing up roles
" I cannot believe there's nobody else alive in Britain who couldn't do the job better than people who work for Blair in a very previous government. Why? Why would you let Mandelson vet candidates? Of all people, why would you let Mandelson do anything? It's still utterly beyond me. "
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