As Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander noted, Labour MPs are experiencing a wave of gloom after a tumultuous week marked by high-profile exits, including that of Lord Mandelson and Angela Rayner.
Questions are swirling around Sir Keir Starmer’s choice to appoint Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to Washington, given Mandelson’s connections to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
It was reported that Mandelson was let go after fresh evidence about his relationship with Epstein came to light this week.
The Prime Minister is now tasked with finding a replacement ambassador for Washington on the eve of a significant state visit from the US President.
During an interview with BBC Breakfast, Alexander expressed the feelings of many in the party: “Losing Angela Rayner last week was heartbreaking for many of us. She’s a remarkable individual who has faced numerous obstacles, and there’s a palpable sense of loss within the party.”
He continued, “It’s tough to deal with further fallout like the removal of Peter Mandelson just a week later. Of course, Labour MPs are feeling despondent about the wave of resignations in our ranks. These are not the sort of headlines anyone associated with government would prefer at all.”
Nevertheless, Alexander emphasized, “When presented with evidence, responsive action was necessary, and now we must look ahead to the future.”
The backlash from Labour MPs about the handling of Mandelson’s case is palpable. Paula Barker, who stepped out of the deputy Labour leader race, voiced her frustration: “The delay in addressing the situation has only damaged trust and confidence in our government and politics overall.”
Meanwhile, Charlotte Nichols critiqued the timing, saying the sacking wasn’t prompt enough and that Mandelson shouldn’t have been selected for the role from the get-go.
Another MP, Sadik Al-Hassan, weighed in by raising crucial concerns regarding the vetting process for the ambassadorial role.
