Minister credits Starmer for ‘taking responsibility’ over Mandelson ahead of key meeting with Labour MPs – UK politics live

<p>Jacqui Smith defends prime minister following resignation of Morgan McSweeney amid Mandelson scandal</p><p>In interviews this morning <strong>Jacqui Smith</strong>, the skills minister, insisted that Keir Starmer will carry on as PM.</p><p>She told Times Radio:</p><p>I think that the prime minister absolutely is determined to [carry on]. He’s determined and has taken responsibility for the mistakes made in appointing Peter Mandelson.</p><p><strong>Margaret Thatcher</strong> stayed in office, after the resignation of <strong>Alan Walters</strong>, for <strong>one year and one month.</strong></p><p><strong>Tony Blair </strong>stayed in office, after the resignation of <strong>Alastair Campbell</strong>, for <strong>three years and 10 months</strong>.</p><p><strong>Gordon Brown</strong> stayed in office, after the resignation of<strong> Damian McBride</strong>, for <strong>one year and one month</strong>.</p><p><strong>Theresa May </strong>stayed in office, after the resignation of <strong>Nick Timothy </strong>and<strong> Fiona Hill</strong>, for <strong>two years and one and a half months</strong>.</p><p><strong>Boris Johnson</strong> stayed in office, after the resignation of <strong>Dominic Cummings</strong>, for <strong>one year and 10 months</strong>.</p><p><strong>Johnson </strong>stayed in office, after the resignation of <strong>Munira Mirza</strong>, for<strong> seven months</strong>.</p><p>The prime minister is taking responsibility. He took responsibility for the decision that was made about Peter Mandelson, although to be clear here it was of course Peter Mandelson that, in consistent lying and engagement with Jeffrey Epstein, let down the party and the government and the country. And I think that will become clearer as the information around the appointment is put out into the public domain.</p><p>One riled MP forwarded Playbook a message the right-leaning Labour First faction has sent to backbenchers it reckons are loyal to Starmer, urging them to speak up in support at the PLP meeting. Talking points include how the PM “accepts his mistakes and apologises,” compared to the carousel of Tory leaders forced from office … and how the government is delivering on “many areas of incremental change.”</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/feb/09/starmer-mandelson-epstein-labour-mcsweeney-conservatives-latest-news-updates">Continue reading...</a>

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