Mandelson criticised Starmer’s lack of ‘verve’ and tendency to buckle under pressure

Peter Mandelson exchanged WhatsApp messages with a senior cabinet minister criticising Keir Starmer’s lack of “verve” and tendency to buckle under pressure, suggesting the prime minister should behave in a more “Trumpian” fashion. The former US ambassador said Number 10 was “beleaguered and bereft” and that the public were “crying out for leadership”. In other exchanges included in a major release of files on Monday, he accused the former prime minister Gordon Brown of trying to undermine Starmer to the advantage of the then deputy PM, Angela Rayner – and suggested the former health secretary Wes Streeting was “hysterical” over Gaza and having a “mid-life crisis”. The exchanges with the work and pensions secretary, Pat McFadden , show extensive discussions of the party’s strategy, including Mandelson’s view that businesses were losing confidence in the UK economy. The WhatsApps are part of a vast tranche of data that MPs voted to release in February relating to Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador including texts with ministers and senior officials. Mandelson was sacked from the role in the autumn after new disclosures about the closeness of his friendship with the late sex offender Jeffery Epstein. Some of the messages appear to show Mandelson going well beyond his brief as ambassador, instead providing UK political advice. …