Mandelson was sacked from the role last year after details of his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein came to light, with Starmer claiming he had no idea of the true extent of their relationship. Starmer alleged that thorough vetting measures were taken during Mandelson’s hiring, but a recent Guardian report revealed this was not the case. The Prime Minister has insisted he was kept in the dark about Mandelson’s vetting process, stating he was unaware the Foreign Minister overruled the decision.
During Monday’s Good Morning Britain, political correspondent Louisa James, who was standing outside Number 10, said: “As one MP put it to me over text, ‘The bad decision here, it was appointing Peter Mandelson, the rest is just details.”
A furious Reid said: “Louisa, thanks very much indeed. I think viewers will think this beggars belief. How on earth did the Prime Minister appoint someone whom he’d already been told was a walking red flag as US Ambassador and then claim more than a year later, ‘Oh, nobody told me.’ I mean, he had a due diligence report – how much information did he need?”
Taking to X to react to Reid’s remarks, one person penned: “This is the right lens to see the issue through. Sir Keir relies not on what is believable, but only on what is provable. He will relish a skirmish in the turgid detail when what is needed is simpler, a less in ‘the buck stops here’.”
A second added: “Exactly!” Another added: “When you combine this with all the other poor decisions Keir Starmer has made, the picture is so clear that he’s a weak-willed, spineless Prime Minister, who falsely purports to be principled, but actually has his nose in the trough like any other MP (Labour or Tory).”
However, another added: “30 mins of Labour bashing on @GMB, not a single other subject was discussed. No Tice tax dodging, no Trump, no fuel shortages, nothing. It was like watching GBNEWS but with more viewers.”
Someone else shared: “Bored with everything Mandleson, he left last September. What’s happened with the cost of living crisis?”
Good Morning Britain airs on weekdays from 6am on ITV and ITVX.