More than 1,000 pages of documents released by the government have exposed Lord Mandelson's withering criticism of Sir Keir Starmer's Downing Street operation and his aggressive lobbying for his advisory firm after Labour's election victory.
The peer, who was appointed UK ambassador to the US last year, described No 10 as 'beleaguered and bereft' and said it needed a 'complete revamp', according to private WhatsApp messages and emails published on Monday. The file also reveals his intensive efforts to secure meetings and events for Global Counsel, the firm he then presided over, and his campaign to become chancellor of Oxford University.
“Over 1,000 pages of documents reveal Lord Mandelson's criticism of No 10 as 'beleaguered and bereft' and his aggressive lobbying for his advisory firm after Labour's win.”
The documents - released following a freedom of information request - cover the period between Labour's general election win and Mandelson's appointment. They show the former Labour minister was deeply critical of the prime minister's leadership style, accusing him of an 'advance/buckle' approach to governing.
One Labour MP told the Daily Mail the files were 'embarrassing and awkward' for Starmer, while a source quoted by i Newspaper said the exchanges were 'like The Thick of It'. The prime minister was seen in public for the first time since the release on Tuesday, as he prepared to chair a cabinet meeting.
Mandelson's lobbying efforts are laid bare in the documents. The Guardian reported that emails and WhatsApp messages show how active he was after the election, working his contacts within government to the potential advantage of both his company and his campaign for the Oxford chancellorship. He pressed ministers to attend his events and meet his staff.
The peer himself told the government it would 'never regret' his appointment, according to Wales Online. But the vetting file that would normally accompany an ambassadorial appointment has not been released, prompting questions about what else might be withheld.
While the story is London-focused, the implications ripple across the UK. The documents reveal the inner workings of a government still finding its feet, with open sniping between senior Labour figures. The Mirror quoted Mandelson directly criticising Starmer's leadership, saying No 10 needed a complete overhaul.
Experts quoted in the Financial Times highlighted the 'remarkable extent' of Mandelson's influence across government policy, while the BBC noted that ministers had expressed concerns about the prime minister and Labour MPs.
Starmer is expected to face questions at the cabinet meeting about how he plans to restore discipline. No 10 has not commented on the specific allegations but has defended the transparency of the appointment process. The missing vetting file continues to fuel speculation.
For the average UK reader, the Mandelson files offer a rare glimpse into the realpolitik of government. It shows that even senior allies are willing to criticise the prime minister in private, and that lobbying for favours begins almost immediately after an election win. While it does not directly affect household finances, it raises questions about trust in political appointments and the integrity of decision-making in Whitehall.