Morgan McSweeney: Starmer’s ‘human shield’ plays the Mandelson blame game
The Daily T
The Telegraph
4.1 • 702 Ratings
🗓️ 28 April 2026
⏱️ 48 minutes
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Summary
Morgan McSweeney has admitted he was worried that Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US “would go wrong” and regretted recommending him – but said the final decision lay with the Prime Minister.
Sir Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff, who was sacked over his handling of the saga, answered questions from the foreign affairs select committee, chaired by the gloriously theatrical Emily Thornberry.
For the second stop on the Daily T roadshow, Camilla and Tim are joined by a live audience in a Cardiff pub as they dissect the questioning of Mr McSweeney – and what it means for the beleaguered PM.
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Producers: Georgia Coan and Lilian Fawcett
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Video Producer: Will Walters
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Editor: Camilla Tominey
Highlights
- Camilla Tominey and Tim Stanley dissect Morgan McSweeney's appearance before MPs
- Starmer's former chief of staff said he worried Mandelson's appointment "would go wrong"
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The Telegraph. |
| 0:05.0 | Tim, we are in not so sunny Cardiff, but we are in Wales. We are on the second day of the Daily Tea Roadshow, and we've just been upstairs at the city arms pub opposite the principality stadium. |
| 0:22.6 | This landlord is the only one in the country who seems to be filling his boots, selling pint |
| 0:27.1 | after pint to Welsh punters. And we've just been upstairs watching Morgan McSweeney |
| 0:32.2 | give his evidence to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. Yes, he was supposed to be deployed |
| 0:36.5 | as a human shield to protect Kier Stama. |
| 0:38.8 | And he did take personal responsibility, but then went on to blame everyone else, including the Prime Minister. |
| 0:45.2 | We will be discussing yet another Emily Thornbury Fest. |
| 0:49.6 | And speaking to the punters here about Welsh politics, are you sick and tired of labour, |
| 0:55.2 | are the Tory's going to be lesser spotted here by this time next week, |
| 0:59.1 | and all the rest. |
| 1:00.6 | So welcome to this very special daily tea from Cardiff |
| 1:03.8 | with me, Camilla Tomini. |
| 1:05.2 | And me, Tim Stanley. |
| 1:06.5 | You like a cheer for that? |
| 1:08.2 | Come on. |
| 1:20.1 | Thank you. I can cheer for that. Come on. So, can I just say that the biggest surprise of this morning is that Morgan McSweeney isn't Scottish. |
| 1:28.3 | Because he's got a kilt-clad name. |
| 1:31.2 | Yes. |
| 1:31.6 | He looks a bit Scottish because there's a touch of ginger there. |
| 1:34.8 | Yes. |
| 1:35.2 | But he's actually from Cork in Ireland. |
... |
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