Europe is confronting its Epstein shame. Trump wants to move on. The avalanche of files have buried some — while others have weathered scrutiny. Axios · Feb 9
Anas Sarwar tells of pain as he calls for ‘friend’ Keir Starmer to quit as PM The Scottish Labour leader has become the most senior Labour figure to publicly call on Sir Keir to step aside. Evening Standard · Feb 9
Starmer will not quit and is upbeat, No 10 says after communications chief quits The Prime Minister’s mood is said to be ‘upbeat’ after Downing Street communications chief Tim Allan announced he would stand down. Evening Standard · Feb 9
As Tim Allan quits No 10, will Keir Starmer be the last man standing? NEWS ANALYSIS: As Tim Allan stands down as Keir Starmer’s fourth director of communications – a day after former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney quit – the PM is looking increasingly vulnerable, writes David Maddox The Independent UK · Feb 9
Gordon Brown by James Macintyre review – a very different kind of politician A new biography reveals Brown to be a man of exceptional vision and probity – what a contrast with today’s politics The Guardian - UK · Feb 9
Starmer in fight to reassert control over Labour party after McSweeney exit Allies hope aide’s departure can quell anger over Mandelson scandal but others say it leaves PM dangerously exposed The Guardian - UK · Feb 8
Epstein files fallout: Peter Mandelson’s five-figure payoff after sacking as US ambassador under review The political storm surrounding Prime Minister Keir Starmer intensified on Sunday after it emerged that Lord Peter Mandelson received a five-figure, taxpayer-funded exit payment following his dismissal as Britain’s ambassador to the United States. This payment is now being reviewed following the latest revelations in the Epstein files. The Times of India · Feb 8
Morgan McSweeney resigns as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Longtime aide has said he takes ‘full responsibility’ for advising PM to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador The Guardian - UK · Feb 8
Defiant Starmer to take Labour message to country despite calls for him to quit over Mandelson Downing Street says PM will be ‘out and about’ in the coming week ‘making the case for why [his] government is delivering for working people’ The Independent UK · Feb 8
‘It’s over for Starmer. The only questions are when, how, and how painful’ IN FOCUS: Keir Starmer’s premiership has lurched between crises, but his handling of the Mandelson scandal could prove to be fatal. Kate Devlin and David Maddox hear from Labour MPs who are furious about this week’s events, and fearful for the future The Independent UK · Feb 7
Victims urge tougher action on deepfake abuse as new law comes into force Campaigners welcome criminalisation of non-consensual AI-generated explicit images but say law does not go far enough The Guardian - UK · Feb 7
Minister commissioned investigation of journalists looking into Labour thinktank Exclusive: Material gathered was personally given to Josh Simons when director of pro-Starmer thinktank, say sources The Guardian - UK · Feb 6
Labour thinktank close to Morgan McSweeney paid firm to investigate journalists Labour Together hired company to look at Sunday Times and Guardian reporters after article about donations, documents suggest The Guardian - UK · Feb 6
Starmer faces renewed calls to sack chief of staff over Mandelson scandal Another Labour MP says Morgan McSweeney should go as Harriet Harman says PM left looking ‘weak, naive and gullible’ The Guardian - UK · Feb 6
The Guardian - UK · Feb 6 Police search properties related to Peter Mandelson investigation - as it happened The police said they were carrying out search warrants at two addresses, one in Wiltshire and another in north London
The Guardian - UK · Feb 5 No 10 defies calls to sack Morgan McSweeney over Mandelson appointment Amid warnings McSweeney’s survival would leave his position ‘untenable’, PM apologises to Epstein’s victims for appointing Mandelson as US ambassador
The Guardian - UK · Feb 5 Calls to halt UK Palantir contracts grow amid ‘lack of transparency’ over deals Opposition MPs urge Labour to pause public contracts with the US tech firm after attempts to examine deals blocked
The Guardian - UK · Feb 5 The Guardian view on Downing Street in crisis: Keir Starmer’s judgment looks fatally flawed Editorial: The prime minister has said sorry for believing Peter Mandelson’s lies – but the Epstein connection should have been disqualification enough
Evening Standard · Feb 5 Wait for Mandelson papers set to drag on as PM apologises for believing peer Parliament’s intelligence watchdog would not commit to a publication date for the documents.
Evening Standard · Feb 5 Andy Burnham-backed Labour group demands 'total overhaul of personnel' in No10 amid Mandelson scandal Mainstream, which is backed by the Greater Manchester mayor, said its members did not want to watch Labour ‘succumb to the same old sickness’ of ‘elite privilege, spin and toxic factionalism’
The Independent UK · Feb 5 Who is Morgan McSweeney? Starmer’s former right-hand man set to face Mandelson scandal grilling Starmer’s right-hand man was considered the driving force behind Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador
Evening Standard · Feb 5 Morgan McSweeney: The rise of Sir Keir Starmer’s right-hand man The Prime Minister’s chief of staff held many political roles during his journey from building sites to Downing Street.
Evening Standard · Feb 5 Starmer’s premiership safe, minister says despite growing anger over Mandelson Steve Reed argued the Prime Minister was lied to by the peer about the extent of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The Independent UK · Feb 5 Starmer-Mandelson latest: Ex-ambassador ‘could face police interview over Epstein in days’ after PM’s apology Starmer in ‘crisis situation’ as he insists ‘none of us knew the depth and the darkness’ of Mandelson-Epstein relationship
The Independent UK · Feb 5 Keir Starmer under pressure from own MPs over Peter Mandelson scandal MPs approved the release of documents relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as British ambassador to the United States on Wednesday.