Labour rebels force Starmer into humiliating climbdown on Mandelson files

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Good morning and welcome to your daily news briefing from The Independent.

Sir Keir Starmer's leadership has been plunged into turmoil after furious Labour MPs forced him into a humiliating climbdown over the release of Mandelson's vetting files, the UK is facing a cancer care "disaster" due to NHS staff cuts and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has moved out of his mansion in Windsor.

Top stories

1 | Labour rebels force Starmer into humiliating climbdown on Mandelson files

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2 | Inside the NHS cancer crisis as senior doctors warn of treatment 'disaster'

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3 | Andrew moves out of Royal Lodge home amid Epstein controversy

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4 | Summer camp sex offender admits drugging wife while he assaulted children

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5 | Head of Reform council's cost-cutting programme resigns after suggesting authority has made 'no cuts'

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Editors' picks

'Thin isn't everything': Readers on living with Ozempic side effects

I was sick in bed for three weeks after my first, supposedly low, dose. Vomiting, retching, unable to eat, headaches – all, so I lost ten pounds not from the drug, but from how sick it made me. It wasn't worth it.

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WATCH 

Alistair Campbell says Peter Mandelson was always 'drawn to the wealthy crowd'

STAT OF THE DAY

162

The number of people killed by Islamic militants killed in Nigeria after one of the deadliest attacks in months,

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

"We are halfway towards being ready."

Nigel Farage has admitted that Reform UK is not yet ready for power, saying his party is only "halfway ready" to govern Britain.

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