The Prime Minister is fighting to save his career after admitting knowing Lord Peter Mandelson continued his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein when he appointed the peer as US Ambassador in 2024. The Labour Party has become increasingly frustrated over Starmer’s admission, and MPs have called for him to sack his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney. Starmer is reportedly furious with Mandelson, accusing him of “lying” to Downing Street, but he’s trying to hold onto his position as Prime Minister. Former Home Office Minister Ann Widdecombe appeared on Mark Dolan’s TalkTV show earlier today, claiming that Starmer’s resignation before the upcoming elections would be “disastrous”.
“Is it when, not if, he goes now?” Dolan asked Widdecombe, who replied: “I think it must be, I think the only thing.
“I don’t think he will go before the May elections, I think it would be suicidal for the Labour Party – it already is, really. But suicidal for the Labour Party to be engaged with warfare right up until the local elections.
“But after that, I think members of the Labour Party will be asking themselves, ‘If we go on with this man, what is the outcome going to be?'”
She continued, issuing a stern warning: “But as I say, be careful with what you wish for. It could be Angela Rayner, and that would be worse.”
On Thursday, Labour MPs were pushing for Rayner and Wes Streeting to launch a leadership campaign against Starmer over the Mandelson scandal.
TalkTV airs daily on YouTube, Sky and Freeview.