Questions over Keir Starmer’s judgement will follow Mandelson sacking, says Michael Gove

FORMER Cabinet minister Michael Gove has said the debate over the sacking of Peter Mandelson will now move on to focus on the judgement of the Prime Minister.

Speaking on GB News, Gove said: “I think the fact that this was announced in the way that it was is down to Neil O’Brien, the Shadow Cabinet member, who brought the Foreign Office minister to the floor of the House to answer.

“At that point, Number 10 will have known we’ve either got to stick or twist, and they will have known that it was indefensible. In the House of Commons, there would have been Labour MPs calling for Peter Mandelson to resign. And at that point they had to make that announcement.

“And of course, it follows on from Kenny Badenoch having what I think most people will agree was her one of her best performances at Prime Minister’s question time yesterday, skewering Starmer on this. And the debate will now move on to the Prime Minister’s own judgement.”

He added: “Next week, to the day, the Prime Minister and Donald Trump will have an hour-long press conference at Chequers. If Peter Mandelson had still been in place then, then that would have turned into a circus. Actually, it would have been the Circus Maximus.

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“It would have been a gladiatorial contest in which people would be queuing up to spear and knife Starmer for his judgement. So now Number 10 must hope that with this issue out of the way, they’ll be able to concentrate on the technology deal that they hope to do…but still, the aroma of the scandal will hang over it, and it will be the case that not just Epstein but also Peter Mandelson will be ghosts at the Royal banquet next week.”

Gove said: “There are lots of people who work in Number 10 who worked with Peter Mandelson in the past and have a very high regard for his political ability and this is the paradox of Peter Mandelson.

“He’s a hyper intelligent person who is capable of giving very, very good advice to others, and yet he seems incapable himself of acting on the same prudent principles that he advises others.”

He added: “I think it’s more glamour than greed. I think that Peter is drawn towards figures whom he finds charismatic and enigmatic, often, but not always, people who are wealthy and the tragedy is that you have someone of such gifts who also displays in his own personal dealings such terrible judgment.”

On whether Mandelson could return again to politics, he said: “He’s lost three of his lives. Cats have nine, feline Lord Mandelson may yet come back.

“It’s a terrible, terrible fate for him. But of course, as I say, the two really significant things ongoing are questions over Keir Starmer’s judgment and also sympathy for Epstein’s victims.”