The State of It: Mandelson, Starmer’s original sin comes back to haunt him

The State of It: Mandelson, Starmer’s original sin comes back to haunt him

Author: The Times April 28, 2026 Duration: 37:01

Morgan McSweeney has told MPs that the revelations about Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein were like a knife through his soul. The more we learn about the appointment process, the madder it sounds. And the odd thing is that crucial decisions were not written down: there are no receipts. There's a mood building in the Labour Party that Keir Starmer will need to go big or go home: come up with a bold agenda, make the case for it and then deliver it. Has he got it in him?


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Hosts: Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times. Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times. Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times.

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson.

Executive producer: Molly Guinness.

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Read more: McSweeney and Barton raise new questions over PM’s judgment

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