Daily Politics from the New Statesman Keir Starmer is safe - but for how long?
Feb 10, 2026
A breakdown of the uproar around the Mandelson scandal and the shock resignation that followed. Discussion of why cabinet figures rallied and what a lack of an obvious successor means. Explores leaked messages, the threat those disclosures pose, and how internal party dynamics and by-election math could reshape the near future.
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Challenge Tightened Party Ranks
- Anna Soubry's call for Keir Starmer's resignation paradoxically rallied the party behind him in the short term.
- A lack of a clear successor and messy scandals made MPs prefer stability over immediate change.
Streeting Released WhatsApps First
- Wes Streeting pre-emptively published his WhatsApp messages with Peter Mandelson to show transparency.
- He aimed to neutralise speculation about a close relationship and control the narrative early.
Mandelson Papers Threaten Many
- The Mandelson document disclosures could damage multiple potential successors depending on what emerges.
- The breadth of correspondence makes the scandal politically dangerous beyond immediate vetting concerns.