The Mandelson Scandal: has Starmer finally lost control? – Politics Weekly

Politics Weekly UK

The Guardian

News, Politics

4.0 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 5 February 2026

⏱️ 31 minutes

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Summary

As Starmer apologises for believing Mandelson’s ‘lies’, just how damaging will the latter’s links to Jeffrey Epstein be for the PM’s own reputation? John Harris and Kiran Stacey discuss the latest. Plus, the mood on the ground from the Gorton and Denton byelection Why this Manchester byelection is a lesson in 21st century politics – video Please send your questions and messages for Pippa Crerar, Kiran Stacey and John Harris to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is The Guardian.
0:10.0	I am sorry.
0:12.0	Sorry for having believed Mandelson's lies and appointed him.
0:18.0	He knew.
0:24.7	He knew that Mandelson had a continuing relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
0:29.8	He knew Mandelson had stayed in his house while Epstein was in jail for child prostitution.
0:34.9	The Prime Minister knew all this. It wasn't good enough because Peter Mandelson lied and the process didn't flag up concerns beyond his lying.
0:39.0	He laid out that he barely had a relationship with Epstein.
0:43.3	In 26, mainstream politics was already in disrepute.
0:47.2	Where is it now?
0:49.2	I'm John Harris and you're listening to Politics Weekly for the Guardian.
0:54.0	Joining me today is my Politics Weekly co Politics Weekly for the Guardian.
0:57.9	Joining me today is my Politics Weekly co-host and The Guardian's Policy Editor to Kieran Stacey.
0:58.6	Hello, Kieran.
0:59.6	Hello, John.
1:00.5	Now, you are in yet another cupboard in Hastings in East Sussex, where you've been at the
1:07.0	Prime Minister's speech this morning.
1:09.0	It was meant to be about the government's Pride in Place programme, but obviously Kirstama ended up addressing the Peter Manelson scandal
1:15.3	head on and apologising. What else did he say? Yeah, well, first of all, John, can I just say
1:19.9	thank you to Sandra of the local cricket club down here in Hastings, who has kindly let me use
1:24.9	her office. The PM has just been speaking in a room
1:28.2	right next to where I am. But yeah, Kirstama wanted to come here because he had some new money
	...

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