‘Think tank close to Labor spied on reporters’, Starmer still under pressure

The British Prime MinisterKeir Starmeris facing a new wave ofcontroversieswhich risks further weakening itsleadership. After the controversies linked to the relations between the former minister Peter Mandelson – chosen by Starmer as ambassador to Washington – and the American financier Jeffrey Epstein, attention is now focused on alleged activities ofdossier contro critical journalists.

At the center of the story isLabour Together, study center vicino all’area del New Labourwhich refers to the political legacy of Tony Blair and which has played a significant role in consolidating Starmer’s leadership in recent years. In the past the structure was led by Morgan McSweeney, already an influential chief of staff to the prime minister, who recently resigned due to his relations with Mandelson.

The accusations of dossiering

According to what emerged,Labour Togetherwould have allocated around 30 thousand pounds to commission the consultancy firm APCO Worldwide to collect information on the drafting of theThe Sunday Times. The goal would have been to identify the sources of an investigation that reported allegationsundeclared financingin support ofLabour’s 2024 election campaign.

Political reactions and requests for investigation

Technology Minister Liz Kendall, who spoke publicly, promisedinternal investigationsma le oppositionsthey speak of a late response. For Kevin Hollinrake, a leading figure in theConservatorythe episode represents an attack onfreedom of the press. It tooScottish National Partyintervened asking for the removal of minister Josh Simons, who at the time led the think tank and today holds the role of deputy coordinator of the Cabinet Office.

Starmer’s position and the next challenges

Although there are currently no signs of oneinternal distrustimmediate, the position of thepremierappears less solid than publicly stated.Starmerhe reiterated his intention to remain in office until the next electionsgeneral electionsscheduled for 2029, but much will depend on the outcome of theadministrative elections in Maydove i pollsindicate possible difficulties for theLabour.

Possible future scenarios and alternatives

A first test could already arrive with theby-electionof 26 February in a traditionally pro-European boarding school in the north of Englandlaborers. Meanwhile, hypotheses about possible ones are starting to circulatealternatives to the leadership of the party: among the names mentioned by the press is that of the Minister of DefenseJohn Healeyconsidered a possible figure of balance between the different souls of the movement.