Pat McFadden: ‘I don’t think it’s good for the country to change prime minister every 18 months’

Keir Starmer’s government is reeling as pressure continues to grow around the prime minister’s appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, despite knowledge of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer has issued an apology to Epstein’s victims for having ‘believed Mandelson’s lies’, and has acknowledged the ‘anger and frustration of Labour MPs’. On the BBC this morning, Laura Kuenssberg asked Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden if Starmer’s leadership is under threat. McFadden said it shouldn’t be, because Starmer has a ‘five year mandate’, and is focused on fixing the cost of living crisis. McFadden argued that changing prime minister has ‘an economic cost… a confidence cost… an international reputation cost’. He said Starmer is a ‘man of good faith’ and should continue. Kuenssberg asked if Starmer will push Mandelson to return his payout. McFadden said Mandelson should return it or donate it to charity.

McFadden: ‘There were advantages to having a political appointment… with a background in........

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