Mandelson's Fall May Topple Starmer Says Adrian Wooldridge

Summary

Adrian Wooldridge argues that Keir Starmer is no longer an effective prime minister or Labour leader after the Peter Mandelson-Epstein vetting scandal. He says markets should worry because either Starmer remaining weakened or a prolonged leadership contest would leave the UK government without authority to address major problems such as debt. Wooldridge frames the crisis as part of a broader decline of Britain's political consensus, not merely a personal failure by Starmer.

• Adrian Wooldridge says Keir Starmer is effectively a dead man walking after the Peter Mandelson-Epstein vetting scandal.
• He argues Labour has no authority or direction despite its large parliamentary majority.
• He says markets should worry about both scenarios: Starmer staying weakened or a prolonged leadership contest.
• He warns the UK government will struggle to address major problems such as debt.
• He frames the crisis as part of a broader collapse of a UK political consensus rather than a one-off scandal.