Wednesday, March 11, 2026 |
|
|
Keir Starmer's decision comes back to haunt him
|
The prime minister paid another instalment of the price of his failed gamble in appointing Peter Mandelson ambassador to Washington. Keir Starmer tried to minimise the damage by delaying publication of the first batch of documents relating to the decision until after Prime Minister's Questions, but the embarrassment was still acute.
Some of the criticism of Starmer was diverted to Mandelson himself by the revelation that he had sought a payout of £500,000, rather than the £75,000 eventually agreed.
But Jonathan Powell, the national security adviser, said Mandelson's appointment was "unusual" and "weirdly rushed". In the documents, Powell appears to suggest that Morgan McSweeney, who resigned as the prime minister's chief of staff last month, led the internal campaign in favour of the appointment.
More documents will be published later, prolonging the prime minister's discomfort, although government sources insisted they would show the decision in a better light. |
|
|
| Chief Political Commentator |
|
| | Chief Political Commentator |
|
|
How many hereditary peers have been allowed to sit in the House of Lords since reforms in 1999? |
Answer at the bottom of today's email |
|
|
| The prime minister said the planned rise would be 'kept under review', paving the way for yet another U-turn
|
|
|
| Tuition fees were tripled when Sir Nick Clegg was deputy prime minister
|
|
|
| The al-Quds march ban may please voters but is likely to divide Labour members over the home secretary's leadership, writes John Rentoul |
|
|
"The business world is fast-moving, ever-changing and highly complex. Fortunately, by subscribing to Independent Premium, you will receive my columns in which, drawing on my long experience as a City editor and business writer, and my knowledge of many of the characters, companies and institutions involved, I make sense of it all for you. I focus on the important stuff, what is really going on, what it actually means. Do sign up and have a read - and please, let me have your feedback and ideas" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
What else you need to know today |
|
|
- Hereditary peers are set to lose their automatic right to sit and vote in the House of Lords, a significant reform expected to take effect before the next King's Speech
- Debate over whether the King should proceed with a planned state visit to the United States has prompted a strong reaction from Independent readers, with many arguing the trip should be called off amid rising tensions between Starmer and Trump
- A teenage Reform UK council leader is facing a vote of no confidence after opponents claimed he brought the authority into "disrepute".
|
|
|
| Why is Labour trying to revive plans for digital IDs? |
|
|
They were quietly dropped last year, but hopes for a digital ID scheme are being revived by Labour. Could this attempt actually succeed, asks Sean O'Grady Read more |
|
|
If she were prime minister… we would be in the war, and she would be coming back to Parliament a week later to say, oh, sorry, I got that one wrong |
|
| Starmer has once again criticised Kemi Badenoch for her changing position on the war in Iran |
| |
Quiz answer: 92, retained as an interim measure, including a mix of Dukes, Viscounts, and Earls. |
|
|
Join the conversation and follow us |
| |
Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's View From Westminster newsletter. To unsubscribe from The Independent's View From Westminster newsletter, or to manage your email preferences please click here. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345
Read our privacy policy and cookie policy
|
|
|
|
0 comentários:
Postar um comentário