Sir Keir Starmer faces a turbulent week as the fallout from Lord Mandelson's sacking continues to overshadow his government. The Prime Minister remains under pressure over when he and Downing Street knew about emails showing the Labour grandee sent supportive messages to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Angela Rayner's resignation over tax affairs also looms large as the race to replace her as deputy Labour Party leader intensifies.
The challenging domestic agenda unfolds against the backdrop of Donald Trump's state visit, which Downing Street says will see the "unbreakable friendship" between the UK and US "reach new heights". Starmer hailed a "landmark" partnership as both countries announced a nuclear deal to boost power plant construction during the visit.
Trump visit and policy developments
Some positive news may emerge from Starmer's immigration policies this week. The first deportations under the "one in, one out" deal with France are expected, with migrants due to be sent back on a commercial Air France flight on Monday, barring last-minute legal challenges.
However, questions about Lord Mandelson persist despite Business Secretary Peter Kyle's weekend media appearances. Kyle defended the initial appointment, saying Mandelson's "singular talents" meant he was deemed "worth the risk", though his explanations left many questions unanswered.
Conservative pressure and party unrest
The Conservatives have written to Starmer demanding he explain the sequence of events leading to Mandelson's dismissal and publish vetting documents. Shadow education secretary Laura Trott said the party will use "every mechanism that is available to us to force the truth to come out".
Discontent among Labour MPs is growing, with one backbencher saying Starmer is "supping in the last-chance saloon". Graham Stringer said "it is a given" among Labour MPs that the Prime Minister is "making mistakes and doing poorly at the job". Helen Hayes warned there will need to be "questions about the nature of the leadership" if Labour performs poorly in May 2026 elections.
Deputy leadership contest
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson launched her deputy leadership bid on Sunday, promising to give members a "strong voice" at the Cabinet table. She urged members to "use this contest to look backward, to pass judgment on what has happened in the last year, or you can use it to shape positively what happens in the run-up to the next election".
The contest threatens to expose further party divisions. Lucy Powell, who entered the race after being sacked as Commons leader, called for a "change of culture" at Downing Street and said the government should not shy away from discussing what is not working.
Meanwhile, speculation surrounds Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham's potential return to Westminster, though an ally dismissed leadership bid rumours as "pure speculation with no substance".
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
