𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Of all the excuses, obfuscation and smoke screens being deployed to try and save Sir Keir Starmer from the flak he so richly deserves over his shameful involvement in the grotesque Mandelson Scandal, the tone-deaf apologists reached a new low the day after the files were released. Desperately trying to redeem some sense of propriety from a crisis that, in almost any other circumstances would mean curtains for a Prime Minister, his supporters trotted out the claim that no other PM has been so committed to protecting women and enhancing their standing in our judicial system.

Which is as grossly insulting as it is wrong. If he was so committed, how come he ignored four (count them FOUR!) different warnings and hired Peter Mandelson for the role as our Ambassador in Washington despite knowing Mandelson:

• Had stayed at the apartment of the most infamous paedophile on the planet, Jeffrey Epstein, when Epstein was in jail for soliciting a minor for prostitution.
• Was friends with Ghislaine Maxwell who is serving a 20-year jail term after being convicted of child sex trafficking.
• Maintained his friendship with Epstein for a further five years after his time in jail.

This defence is a sham and stinks of desperation – and equally shaming are the comments he expressed at Number 10 Downing Street a week ago where the PM held a reception to mark International Women’s Day.

“Today on International Women’s Day, we celebrate the achievements of women and girls throughout history and across the world,” said Sir Keir. Before that he had talked of his “personal mission” to protect women and girls.

“I’m determined to halve violence against women and girls. For too long too many women and girls have been let down.”

So, Sir Keir, would you care to answer why you ignored public and private briefings as well as a two-page Cabinet Office “due diligence” report and appointed Mandelson to the post?

And how does that decision stack up with your “mission” to “protect women and girls” that you ceaselessly talk up?

In reality Sir Keir has lost any shred of respectability. His claims he didn’t know “the full extent” of Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein are shown to be a blatant lie and while that behaviour is hardly unique to many a politician, where he is now dangerously exposed is having told the House of Commons last September that “full due process” had been followed.

No, it had not. It had been “weirdly rushed” in the view of national security adviser Jonathan Powell and Mandelson had been provided with confidential information prior to being fully cleared.

And as if that isn’t sickening enough, we paid £75,000 to Mandelson after he was dumped out of office. Evidently Whitehall officials were thrilled to “get this settlement down this low with minimal fuss” as Mandelson had initially (and outrageously) asked for £547,000! Quite a price for failure.

The usually suave Darren Jones, the PM’s chief secretary, clung to this disgraceful cut price deal as he outlined in the Commons the extent of scandal last week – but if he thinks that might make the justifiable fury abate, his customary savviness has completely deserted him.

Sir Keir will survive, not because he deserves to but rather none of his rivals are “good to go” to fight him. Former Deputy PM Angela Rayner is still the subject of a tax investigation into an underpayment over a house purchase, Wes Streeting is losing political capital as the NHS is not improving at the rate many desire and Andy Burnham isn’t even a MP.

It used to be said of Sir Keir that while his political skills were clearly lacking, he was at least a decent man.

After last week, even that has ceased to be the case.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Strictly Come Downing Street?

The axe continues to swing at Strictly Come Dancing with the reported departures of Nadiya Bychkova, Nancy Xu and Neil Jones, possibly to be followed with Karen Hauer and Kaya Jones also heading towards the door marked exit.

Just when did this show start to resemble a brutal cabinet re-shuffle?

Oh, for a return of the fun days with political giants John Sergeant and Ann Widdecombe strutting their stuff on a cold Saturday night!

Yeah okay, Rachel

The gougers are at it again, as they scandalously hike up fuel prices despite using supplies that were in the country long before this crisis even began.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves says she will “not tolerate” such behaviour.

Really? Just have a look at the prices next time you pass a petrol station and see what her words are worth.

Dopey Davey misses the mark (again!)

Down the years I’ve made it a basic principle of life to consider any utterance to come from the mouth of Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey to be utter tosh.

And, true to form, he came good again last week with his absurd idea King Charles should scrap next month’s planned to the US in protest against Donald Trump and his bombing of Iran.

If Trump is going to listen to anyone the chances are it could be our King and dopey Davey should also realise Charles is visiting the US for the sake of our relationship with the nation and all Americans, not just the current occupant of the White House.

What have we become?

To the Gulf, where the French military will deploy a flotilla of 12 ships and a total of more than 50 aircraft. Meanwhile, HMS Dragon is still days away and the UK is sending three additional helicopters to aircraft already based there.

Nelson, Montgomery and Churchill must be spinning in their graves.

Taxpayers shouldn’t fork out for this

Farewell double child killer Ian Huntey, you will not be missed. But up to £3,000 from taxpayers to fund a funeral service would be missed, and must not be allowed to happen.