'Like Ferrets In A Sack': Labour At War As Starmer Engulfed By Mandelson Scandal

A Labour grandee has accused senior party figures of “acting like ferrets in a sack” as Keir Starmer faces his biggest crisis as prime minister over the Peter Mandelson scandal.

Lord Blunkett pleaded with his colleagues to “get our act together” on another grim day for the PM.

The former home secretary even hinted that Starmer could decide to resign as the fallout continues over his decision to appoint Mandelson the UK’s ambassador to Washington.

Mandelson was sacked after just seven months over his links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and now faces a criminal investigation into allegations he passed government information to the financier when he was business secretary.

Blunkett told Radio 4′s Broadcasting House programme: “Only Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria can decide on their future. No one else this weekend or in the days ahead are going to determine that.”

The Labour peer repeated his call for the PM to sack his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who urged him to give Mandelson the ambassador’s job.

He said: “If people continue to give you the wrong advice, or you’re listening to the wrong people, you can do something about it.”

Making a desperate plea for party unity, Blunkett added: “I appreciate that things are dire, but they’re made more difficult by briefings and counter briefings.

“When see a party acting like ferrets in a sack, they draw the conclusion. Let’s try and get our act together. Let’s speak with a common voice about what we’re about.”

His comments came as a cabinet minister slapped down Angela Rayner and David Lammy over their response to the Mandelson affair.

Allies of the pair have insisted they warned Starmer not to give Mandelson the ambassador’s job a year ago.

Asked about their interventions on Sunday, work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden said: “It’s up to them. They’re over 21, you know, they’ll have to answer for themselves on what they’re saying.”

Meanwhile, Starmer ally McFadden also appeared to acknowledge the possibility that the PM could be removed from office by saying McSweeney should stay in his job “if” Starmer remains PM.

Asked if he should sack McSweeney, he said: “I see no point in that whatsoever. I think if the prime minister stays … I don’t think that would make any difference at all.

“I think the prime minister should continue with what he’s doing. He is focused on the cost of living. He wants to deliver for the British people.”

However, the head of a Labour-supporting union said it was time for Starmer to go.

Steve Wright, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, which is affiliated to Labour, said: “I think we need to see change. I think 18 months ago the general public wanted to see that change – and we’re not seeing it, we’re just seeing a continuation of what happened before – and I think that needs to be a leadership change. I think MPs need to be calling for that.”