Sir Keir Starmer will dodge an emergency debate in the Commons today over the hiring and sacking of former US ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson.
The prime minister has come under fierce pressure for hiring the veteran Labour politician last December despite his well-known relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The debate is set to last up to three hours and was secured by Tory MP David Davis. A minister is due to answer questions for Sir Keir.
The PM broke his silence on Lord Mandelson’s sacking last night, saying that he would never have appointed the politician if he had known about the extent of the relationship with Epstein, revealed by media outlets last week. The latest findings showed that Lord Mandelson had supported the disgraced former banker after he was jailed for a child sex offence in 2008.
Off the back of several high-profile resignations and sackings, including former deputy PM Angela Rayner, speculation is now building that Sir Keir could be forced out after May’s local elections if the results are as bad for Labour as expected.
UK Politics live: Key points
- Starmer dodges debate over Mandelson’s Epstein links
- Starmer to face pressure over Mandelson’s Epstein ties
- Top Starmer aide quits over sexually explicit Diane Abbott messages
- The problems keep racking up for Starmer – even before Donald Trump touches down
- Victims minister: ‘I was disgusted by Mandelson’s emails’
Maria Caulfield defects to Reform as Nigel Farage claims another former Tory minister
10:57 , Tom WatlingFormer health minister Maria Caulfield has become the latest Conservative politician to defect to Reform in another blow for Kemi Badenoch.
It comes less than a day after the shock defection of sitting Conservative MP Danny Kruger to Nigel Farage’s party.
Read the full story below.
Maria Caulfield defects to Reform as Nigel Farage claims another former Tory minister
Stop Trump Coalition protest group issue warning ahead of president’s state visit
10:46 , Tom Watling
Stop Trump Protest group issue warning ahead of president’s state visit
The problems keep racking up for Starmer – even before Donald Trump touches down
10:29 , Kate Devlin, Whitehall EditorIt’s a funny old world when a visit from the notoriously unpredictable Donald Trump might offer the PM some respite.
After a torrid few weeks in which the PM has lost three major figures in his government, including his deputy, his US ambassador and a key aide, the problems keep mounting for Keir Starmer.
This morning he faces calls to act over Gaza - again - after a UN report concluded Israel has committed genocide.
The PM has managed to pull off two meetings with President Trump which have gone well.
But could his luck run out?
After all Theresa May also thought she had charmed him when she secured a state visit during her premiership.
Yet as he stood beside her at a press conference in Chequers (where, coincidentally, Starmer and Trump will be later this week) he heaped praise on her then arch-rival... one Boris Johnson.
Starmer dodges debate over Mandelson’s Epstein links
10:19 , Archie Mitchell, Political CorrespondentThe Independent’s Political Correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Sir Keir Starmer has had enough of answering questions about what he knew, and when, about Lord Mandelson’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The prime minister will send out one of his ministers instead to field questions about the timeline of the ex-ambassador to the US’s appointment.
The debate will last up to three hours and was secured by Tory MP David Davis.
It is not surprising that the PM would not respond directly to an emergency debate called on the appointment of an ambassador by a backbench MP.
But critics will view it as the prime minister dodging further scrutiny of one of the most perilous moments of his time in office so far.
New Corbyn party to hold founding conference in November
10:15 , Tom WatlingFormer Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s new political party will hold its founding conference in November, with delegates chosen by lottery.
In an email to supporters, the party said it would open membership applications by the end of September, ahead of the conference two months later.
But it did not give precise dates for the conference, saying only that it would see “thousands” of delegates “chosen by lottery to ensure a fair balance of gender, region and background”.
Ahead of that conference, the party said it would hold “regional assemblies” where members can “listen to each other, break bread and debate” founding documents.
It will also hold a vote on the party’s name in October, replacing its current temporary title of “Your Party”.
Powell leads polls to become next Labour deputy leader
09:58 , Tom WatlingThe recently-fired Lucy Powell is the favourite to replace Sir Keir Starmer’s right-hand woman Angela Rayner as the deputy leader of the Labour Party, a poll has shown.
A Survation survey carried out for LabourList put Powell, the former leader of the Commons, in a clear lead ahead of education secretary Bridget Phillipson.
The survey of 1,112 people found Powell 15 points ahead of Phillipson with the support of 47 per cent of Labour members to the education secretary’s 30 per cent.
Of the 23 per cent that are undecided, nearly two thirds are leaning towards Powell.
While Phillipson is seen as an establishment figure, supporters believe Powell, fired by Sir Keir just two weeks ago, could be a more vocal critic of the current premiership.
The new deputy leader will be announced by the party on 25 October. They will replace Ms Rayner, who resigned after failing to pay the appropriate rate of stamp duty on a property in Hove.
Ministers arrive for cabinet meeting
09:43 , Tom WatlingMinisters have been pictured arriving for this morning’s cabinet meeting at Downing Street.
The meeting comes at a turbulent time for Sir Keir Starmer’s government as an emergency debate is set to take place later today into his appointment of the recently sacked Lord Peter Mandelson.
Clegg calls out US voices for looking to ‘turn this country into little MAGA Britain’
09:31 , Tom WatlingAhead of Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK, in which he is expected to grill Sir Keir Starmer on what he perceives to be a free speech problem in the UK, Sir Nick Clegg has accused the likes of Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson of trying to create a “little Maga Britain”.
Speaking to ITV’s Robert Peston, the former deputy prime minister and Meta Global Affairs chief said it was paramount that the Trump administration’s attempted intervention in UK free speech laws is called out.
What’s at stake in Trump’s state visit and why Starmer will have to treat the US president like a child
09:13 , Sam Kiley, World Affairs EditorPeter Mandelson has learned that favours for, and loyalty to, a sex offender can end a sticky career. Keir Starmer, this week, is bringing the King himself into a bid to charm another American who’s been found liable for sexual assault, convicted of felonies, and is a serial bankrupt.
Mandelson oiled up to Jeffrey Epstein because Britain’s former ambassador to Washington has always seemingly been mesmerised by power and money.
Starmer has organised Donald Trump’s state visit, pomp, parades and banquets as a strategic necessity – to wean the US president off the Russian teat. To protect Britain’s economy from the US president. And to protect the UK and Europe from a surge in Trumpian ideologues at home.
What’s at stake as Starmer babysits Trump through state visit
Mel Stride: Musk's speech at Robinson rally was wrong kind of tone
09:01 , Tom WatlingElon Musk’s rhetoric at the Unite the Kingdom march was “the wrong kind of tone,” shadow chancellor Mel Stride said.
Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme by host Nick Robinson about Mr Musk’s speech at the protest, Mr Stride said: “Well, I personally, I think when people say, you know, ‘stand up and fight or die’ and phraseology like that, I think is deeply unfortunate.
“I think it’s the wrong kind of tone, personally, but I do think underlying all this Nick, there’s an important point which is that we need to deal with some of the fundamentals of what is driving some of these comments.
“We live in an increasingly divisive society.
“We know that illegal migration is playing a part in that, and we need to have this Government get a grip on that.”
Penny Mordaunt 'can't understand' why Tories are deflecting to Reform
08:53 , Tom WatlingMel Stride: ‘Danny Kruger is profoundly wrong to say it’s over for Tories’
08:44 , Archie Mitchell, Political CorrespondentMel Stride has said Danny Kruger is “profoundly wrong” to say it is over for the Conservative Party following his defection to Reform UK.
The shadow chancellor said: “It is certainly the case that we had a devastating defeat about a year ago, that we lost that connection with the electorate, that trust with the electorate, and it is also true that it will take us time to rebuild that.”
He said the Tories have four years until the next general election and must “hold our nerve” about Reform’s surge in the polls in the meantime.
Starmer faces cabinet as government turmoil deepens
08:35 , Archie Mitchell, Political CorrespondentThe Independent’s Political Correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Sir Keir Starmer will face his cabinet at 9.30am as the crisis engulfing his government deepens.
With questions spiralling about his appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson and the fresh blow of the departure of a senior aide, the prime minister will seek to rally his ministers behind his vision.
To ease tensions, he will be able to talk up his Hillsborough Law, which he says will prevent a culture of state cover-ups similar to the wake of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
But worrying his top team will be a three-hour debate this afternoon in parliament about exactly what the PM knew, and when, about Lord Mandelson’s ties to Epstein.
Starmer: Hillsborough Law will change the lives of thousands
08:28 , Tom WatlingSir Keir Starmer said the Hillsborough Law would change the lives of thousands of people.
He said: “I really want you to appreciate just how important it is and profound.
“You have changed the lives not just of the families involved in all of those scandals and injustices, you are also going to change the lives of thousands of people you will never meet, who for years and years and decades and generations to come will now be able to point to what you have done and say ‘we don’t have to go through that’.”
Campaigner Margaret Aspinall said: “I thought this is a day that was not going to happen.”
“This is not just about a legacy for the 97,” she said, in reference to the number of Liverpool fans who died in the tragedy.
“This is a legacy for the people of this country and I think that is the most important thing.”
Top Starmer aide quits over sexually explicit Diane Abbott messages
08:23 , Archie Mitchell, Political CorrespondentThe Independent’s Political Correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
One of Sir Keir Starmer’s top aides has quit after it emerged he had exchanged sexually explicit messages about the veteran left-wing MP Diane Abbott.
In a fresh blow to the beleaguered prime minister, Paul Ovenden announced he was leaving his role as Downing Street’s director of strategy to avoid becoming a “distraction” after the 2017 messages were uncovered.
The former journalist, who has worked for Labour for more than a decade, had reportedly exchanged emails with a colleague at the time that included sexually explicit remarks about Ms Abbott.
Top Starmer aide quits over sexually explicit Diane Abbott messages
ICYMI: Mandelson sacked over fresh revelations about Epstein revelations
08:21 , Tom WatlingThe story of Lord Peter Mandelson’s relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein is one that won’t go away - unfortunately, for Sir Keir Starmer.
The PM’s choice last December to elect Mandelson, the veteran Labour politician, to the role of US ambassador was high risk, high reward, given the figure’s well-known relationship with Epstein.
But fresh revelations about Mandelson’s support for Epstein even after the disgraced former banker was jailed for a child sex offence tipped the scales the wrong way for Sir Keir.
The rewards, which include a trade deal with the US, have been fatally outweighed by the risks.
Below, you can read the full story of Mandelson’s sacking and the fresh revelations about his relationship with Epstein.
Peter Mandelson sacked as US ambassador after revelations over his links to Epstein
Hillsborough Law will not be watered down, says minister
08:19 , Tom WatlingThe so-called Hillsborough Law will not be watered down in Parliament, a justice minister has promised.
Asked whether she could guarantee that the Bill would not be watered down as some Hillsborough families fear, justice minister Alex Davies-Jones said: "Of course, and I recognise those concerns.
"These families have been fighting for decades for justice. They have been making promise after promise, and the previous government failed to do in 14 years what this Government has done in 14 months in bringing forward that legislation."
She added: "I will be making sure with my colleagues in Parliament that it remains as robust as it can be and is a fitting tribute to all those who have campaigned for this."
Minister says France migration deal will go ahead
08:18 , Tom WatlingDeportations under the "one in, one out" deal with France will go ahead, a minister has insisted.
But justice minister Alex Davies-Jones said she would not give a "running commentary" on when deportations would occur, claiming this would give people smugglers "exactly what they want".
She told Times Radio: "I'm not going to comment or give a running commentary on what is happening here."
Asked when migrants would be returned to France, she said: "These deportations will be happening as soon as possible."
But she declined to say when, or whether asylum seekers due to arrive from France as part of the scheme would still fly to the UK later this week.
Asked why she would not comment, she said: "If I was to break down with you exactly a time-by-time, day-by-day movement on our returns policy, then that would be giving these abhorrent people smugglers exactly what they want.
"This would be allowing them to know what the Government is doing when, and they would be able to respond to that. We are not going to be doing them any favours."
Victims minister: ‘I was disgusted by Mandelson’s emails’
08:18 , Tom WatlingThe victims minister has said she was “disgusted” by Lord Mandelson’s emails to Jeffrey Epstein and “knew he had to go”.
Alex Davies-Jones said she is “glad that he has gone” and supported Sir Keir Starmer’s handling of the scandal.
“The prime minister appointed him on the information he had at hand and as soon as he was aware as I said, the action was taken and he was removed and he was right to be removed,” she told BBC Breakfast.
Ms Davies-Jones said: “When I read what was in those emails, I was truly disgusted, and I knew that Mandelson had to go, and I'm glad that he has gone.”
Starmer to face pressure over Mandelson’s Epstein ties
08:17 , Tom WatlingSir Keir Starmer will come under fresh pressure on Tuesday as he faces a debate on who knew what and when about Lord Mandelson’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The prime minister will send out one of his ministers to defend his handling of the scandal of the now-sacked ambassador to Washington’s friendship with the paedophile.
He has faced scrutiny after admitting he was aware of a cache of emails, but not of their content, before he went out to defend Lord Mandelson at PMQs last week.
The contents of the emails later proved fatal for Lord Mandelson’s ability to cling on to the job, raising questions about why Sir Keir went out to bat for the Labour grandee.
Good morning
08:17 , Tom WatlingThere’s a lot going on today in the world of UK politics, as Sir Keir Starmer faces further scrutiny over his government’s appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson.
It’s been a turbulent few weeks for Sir Keir; after the resignation of his deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, followed by an emergency cabinet reshuffle and then the sacking of Mandelson, MPs are now openly speculating that his premiership could come to an abrupt halt.
It went from bad to worse for Sir Keir last night as another of his top aides, director of strategy Paul Ovenden, quit over lewd comments about veteran MP Dianne Abbott.
And it’s all unfolding as Donald Trump readies to touch down in the UK this evening for a state visit. The US president is expected to grill the PM over Britain’s free speech laws.
You can follow all the day’s events here as we bring you live updates.
