Labour's mandelson mistake exposes foreign policy flaws

A new wave of outrage over Peter Mandelson's ill-fated appointment as Britain's ambassador to Washington has sharpened opposition calls for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's resignation. But Labour MPs remain divided over who could replace him without triggering destructive factional infighting.

Starmer's defenses ring hollow

Starmer claims ignorance of the security vetting process that raised red flags over Mandelson's controversial past. He fired Olly Robbins, the Foreign Office permanent secretary who signed off on Mandelson's clearance, in an attempt to demonstrate his commitment to procedural rectitude. However, Robbins testified that his department faced