UK prime minister Keir Starmer referred to the British police elements pertaining to the alleged collusion between Jeffrey Epstein and former UK ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson. Already dubbed by some as the possible worst case of corruption in 50 years, it may place Starmer in a precarious condition ahead of the local elections.
This week, British Police launched a criminal investigation in response to allegations that Lord Peter Mandelson had divulged government-sanctioned information to Jeffrey Epstein while he was serving as Minister for Business in 2009.
The former Labour Party member, known as ‘The Prince of Darkness’, has been accused of leaking government emails and market-sensitive information in the aftermath of the financial crash of 2008.
Despite Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s collaboration with the police and apologies to Jeffrey Epstein’s Victims, Enda Brady, presenter with TRT, thinks the latest scandal may just be his undoing.
Peter Mandelson. Picture by: Eamonn Farrell.“I think we're into the last of Keir Starmer’s reign one way or the other,” he told Newstalk.
“Everyone had predicted that he would last until May when the local elections take place here. Labour are, according to the polls, heading for a wipeout in those council elections.
“You've got a national election in Scotland, a national election in Wales. All the polling has been really bad for Starmer. But this really could see him gone way before May even.”
He told Newstalk Saturday’s Emmet Oliver that Keir Starmer’s defense to date appears to be that Mendelson lied to him repeatedly. But the ties between the former Ambassador and convicted paedophile were longstanding.
Mr Brady said that the casualties in the fallout from the scandal would be those close to Starmer.
“I would be quite concerned if I was [Morgan] McSweeney right now”.
The Downing Street Chief of Staff is seen as being a protégé of Mandelson. However, it is unlikely Keir Starmer would relieve him of his duties because if he goes, Starmer would have to follow. “They are inextricably linked”, Enda Brady told Emmet Oliver.
Morgan McSweeney. Picture by: Tayfun Salci.Speaking on Newstalk Saturday, Enda Brady told host Emmet Oliver that the upcoming May election would likely be a problem for the duo unless they absolutely defy the polls.
Polling is currently not in Labour’s favour with 9 and 10 percentage points behind Reform UK, the party formed by Nigel Farage, who only has 8 MPs.
He profiled the current Prime Minister, saying: “I think Starmer’s problem has always been that there is a significant part of the Labour Party who never wanted him in the first place.”
He noted that Starmer came in after Jeremy Corbyn at a time when Unions had a lot of sway with Labour, an added edge the former lacked.
“The biggest criticism after his appointment is that he wasn’t a politician - for some he just can’t do politics. Mr Brady cited his background as a human rights lawyer and as Head of the Crown Prosecution Service as reasons why he is not seen as a politics man.
“I think internally there are moves against him and he is now being undone by one decision.”
Asked how the Head of Government is expected to act in the coming days, Brady said: “he has two choices: either he leaves of his own volition on Monday or he fights on and starts throwing people under the bus.
Main Image: Keir Starmer.
