UK Politics

Peter Mandelson was still in contact with the disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein as late as 2016, newly released emails show. The UK’s former ambassador to Washington joked with him about his birthday eight years after Epstein was sentenced to 18 months in prison for soliciting prostitution from a minor.Keir Starmer sacked the Labour grandee after the publication of separate emails that showed he had sent supportive messages even as Epstein faced jail for sex offences.The new emails also appear to suggest Mandelson warned Epstein to stay away from Prince Andrew – for his own sake. In one, from November 6, Epstein emails to say “you were right about staying away from Andrew”. Lord Peter Mandelson (Jonathan Brady/PA) More

Sir Keir Starmer is facing a major crisis at the heart of his government after his chief of staff was blamed for a botched effort to prevent a leadership challenge.The prime minister is under pressure to sack Morgan McSweeney over the pre-emptive attempt to see off any coup to oust Sir Keir, with a series of ministers and Labour MPs privately calling for the No 10 chief of staff to go after a day of chaos that has raised serious questions about the government’s future.Wes Streeting, who was targeted in the briefing as a potential challenger, hit back at suggestions he was planning a tilt at the leadership as he criticised a “toxic culture” in Downing Street.Asked at the NHS Providers conference in Manchester about Mr McSweeney, the health secretary responded: “I am not going to add to the toxic culture by contributing to the toxic culture and going after individuals. I don’t think that would be a constructive or positive thing to do, and one thing I would say for Morgan McSweeney is there wouldn’t be a Labour government without him.”As the Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, went for the kill in a bruising PMQs, Sir Keir refused to take the opportunity to give Mr McSweeney his firm backing. The lack of endorsement suggests Mr McSweeney was behind the briefing and is now in the line of fire.Sir Keir Starmer said his team was focused on delivering for the country More

Badenoch takes Labour leadership jibe at Starmer and Streeting in heated PMQsKeir Starmer has said he “never authorised attacks on cabinet members” as he continues to back Wes Streeting amid mounting speculation the prime minister could face a leadership coup.As a civil war erupts at the top of the Labour Party, the health secretary has categorically denied that he is plotting to oust Sir Keir and called for those in Downing Street briefing against him to face the sack.In a flurry of anonymous late-night briefings, allies of the prime minister came out fighting on his behalf amid fears his job could be under threat after the Budget in two weeks’ time. Among those touted as replacements are Mr Streeting as well as home secretary Shabana Mahmood.Speaking during a fiery PMQs, Sir Keir said that “any attack on any member of my Cabinet is completely unacceptable”, and insisted that the health secretary is doing a “great job” as he highlighted his record on turning around the NHS.However, the prime minister did not take the chance to say he has full confidence in his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, when the question was put to him by Kemi Badenoch.The Conservative leader also accused Sir Keir of having “lost control of No 10” following the briefings.PM’s press secretary leaves open possibility Starmer could sack peopleThe Prime Minister’s press secretary left open the possibility that Sir Keir Starmer could sack people within his No 10 operation following a briefing war at the top of Government.Asked if the PM was prepared to sack people found to have briefed against Cabinet ministers, his press secretary said: “I would point you to what he has said about this previously, which is any attacks on Cabinet ministers are completely unacceptable and will always be dealt with.”Briefings against Health Secretary Wes Streeting in particular were “a series of quotes attributed to outside Downing Street”, she suggested, when asked if a leak inquiry was under way.The Prime Minister has full confidence in both the Health Secretary and his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, No 10 also indicated.Asked if briefings that Sir Keir’s insists he is ready to fight against leadership challenges made him look weak, the press secretary replied that “the Prime Minister’s leadership speaks for itself”, and pointed to to the three trade deals he had struck, as well as efforts to restore stability to the economy, and reform public services.Tara Cobham12 November 2025 14:45Streeting dismisses idea McSweeney is responsible for toxic cultureRebecca Thomas, Health Correspondent, reports live from the conference: When asked by journalists at the NHS Providers conference “Do you think Morgan McSweeney is responsible for the toxic culture in number 10? Do you think he should be fired for weekly going?The health secretary responded: “I am not going to add to the toxic culture by contributing to the toxic culture and going after individuals.“I don’t think that would be a constructive or positive things to do and one thing I would say for Morgan McSweeney is there wouldn’t be a Labour government without him.”Rebecca Thomas, Health Correspondent12 November 2025 14:37From Streeting to Miliband: Who could challenge Keir Starmer for the leadership?Sir Keir was being given until the crucial elections next May – and potential calamities in Scotland, Wales and London – before MPs would consider a move against him, but if the Budget in a fortnight’s time lands badly then his demise could come sooner.The Independent’s political editor David Maddox looks at who could replace him:Tara Cobham12 November 2025 14:30Streeting bats away claims he’s on ‘manoeuvres’Rebecca Thomas, Health Correspondent, reports live from the conference:During his speech at the NHS Providers conference in Manchester Mr Streeting suggested he was not “on manoeuvres”.Quizzed further after his speech the health secretary was asked will you be fighting alongside the prime minister, following stories of an alleged leadership coup.Mr Streeting said: “The bizarre thing about some juvenile briefing overnight its some people in No.10 said the prime minister is fighting for his job, I don’t think that is true…I think what he is trying to do is fighting to turn this country around.”Quizzed about a 2024 interview when he expressed his desire to be PM one day.He said: “I’ve got a hard job already, so I’m quite enjoying doing this”Adding “I’m not going to say anything today that adds to the silly season that is going down.”Rebecca Thomas, Health Correspondent12 November 2025 14:23Streeting dismisses ideas that Starmer fighting for his jobWes Streeting has dismissed questions that Keir Starmer is fighting for his job in No 10.“The bizarre thing about some juvenile briefing overnight is that it’s some people in No 10 that have said the prime minister is fighting for his job.“I don’t think that’s a helpful or constructive thing to say, I also don’t think it’s true. “What I think he is doing is fighting to turn the country around from the enormous mess we’ve inherited on so many fronts.”( More

Wes Streeting has denied he is plotting to oust Sir Keir Starmer after Downing Street intervened in claims that a potential leadership coup is in the works. Dismissing the speculation, the health secretary said the claims were “self-defeating and self-destructive”, comparing them to conspiracy theories.He told Sky News on Wednesday: “I think whoever’s been briefing this has been watching too much Celebrity Traitors.“It’s a totally self-defeating briefing, not least because it’s not true and I don’t understand how anyone thinks it’s helpful to the prime minister either,” he added, calling for the originators of the briefings to be sacked.No 10 has singled out the health secretary to warn off other potential leadership challenges from senior Labour figures More

The sole Reform UK member of the Welsh Parliament, Laura Anne Jones, is facing a two-week suspension from the Senedd’s debating chamber following a recommendation from its standards committee. The proposed ban stems from a racial slur she used in a WhatsApp message exchange.Ms Jones, who defected from the Conservatives earlier this year, made the offensive remark about Chinese people in a group during a discussion about the Chinese-owned app TikTok in August 2023. She wrote: “No ***** spies for me.”While Ms Jones has previously issued an apology for the comment, the Senedd standards committee concluded that her actions “fell far below the standards expected” of a member of the Senedd. Members of the Senedd are expected to formally approve the 14-day suspension next week.Jones defected from the Conservatives earlier this year More