Starmer’s Boris Johnson moment: Your own strategy becomes a trap

But first things first: In February 2025 was the former business minister and Labor peer Peter Mandelson as Ambassador to Washington been sent. Seven months later, in September In 2025, it was announced that Mandelson too after Jeffrey Epstein’s conviction may have had contact with the sex offender.

Starmer reacted quickly and fired Mandelson – but he did criticism He couldn’t prevent this: Why had he appointed Mandelson ambassador in the first place? Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein before his conviction was no secret. Didn’t that already speak against an appointment?

Scandal over security checks

Even if Starmer does this Crisis first sit it out could, the case got a new lease of life in the spring when the US Justice Department Millions of pages from the Epstein files published and thus further incriminating material against Mandelson came to light. But then he let it go Guardian A bombshell burst in mid-April: the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs should Mandelson to the ambassador appointed have, even though he has that Vetting by British security officials failed had.

Beating ever since Questions and accusations with new violence – not at Mandelson, but on Starmer. He is not aware of any guilt; rather, they will dismissedwho is responsible for the wrong decision: his once close advisor Morgan McSweeney and the senior State Department official Oliver Robbins.

First in der Bredouille

But the opposition senses their chance. Starmer’s popularity ratings are still low 19 percent. It’s getting louder and louder criticism from the own ranks. In mid-March he was challenged Scottish Labor Party leader Anas Sarwar to resign. Standing next week in England regional elections and in Scotland as well as Wales General elections to. Labor could lose dominance there for the first time since Welsh devolution in 1999. Loud Sun Internal party opponents are likely to be the mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham and the former Labor deputies Angela Rayner – in common takeover plans tinker.

And so the conservative party leader brought Kemi Badenoch a “humble address” to the king, an emergency debate and finally the motion for the Privileges Committee a. With a lead of 112 votes, Keir Starmer won the big one this week Avert drama.

Memories of Johnson

But there is some certainty Ironythat all the stops that Badenoch pulled out four years ago Keir Starmer as opposition leader were applied themselves, one the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson out of office to urge.

After months of criticism of the Corona parties, a late lockdown and contradictory instructions, Johnson brought up a different topic coincidence: die Chris Pincher promoted to parliamentary group leaderalthough Johnson was at the time of Allegations of sexual assault knew.

In the end, it is moral failings that the British do not forgive.