Did he do enough?

 Did the prime minister do enough in parliament on Monday to save his job? The House of Commons was packed - liked sardines in a can - it was standing room only for those who arrived late. The barrister Starmer, was bullish and ponderous, but clearly very nervous. Kemi Badenoch, was dangerous and up for a fight. Apparently she had a visit from Lord Cameron, just before she entered the chamber. Perhaps he gave her a few tips? It still - beggars belief that Starmer didn’t know that Mandelson had failed secretly vetting and wasn’t informed. The essential problem is that Mandelson, was appointed as ambassador, before the vetting had taken place. Thereby getting the - cart before the horse. The Foreign Office, were therefore in a - bind. Do they reject or not a chosen person for the role of ambassador? It was at that point they should have informed the prime minister that he had in fact - failed the security vetting process. He was not given a green light, but an amber one - therefore raising questions about his suitability. Starmer is still not out of trouble yet. He didn’t do enough to save his job and his back benchers, didn’t look convinced - about his story either. He is a - dead man walking. 

I watched the Commons Select Committee on the Foreign Office, this morning and Sir Ollie Robbins, the recently sacked permanent secretary was before them. He was there to explain why he was dismissed and the security process Lord Peter Mandelson had gone through? He indicated the severe pressure he and his department - was under from the prime minister’s office for a rapid decision by January 20 2025. This was the date when Trump, became president. What became increasingly clear was that - they wanted him to be given security clearance for his job as ambassador to Washington. The pressure was unrelenting and persistent from Downing Street and the prime minister’s office. In other words Morgan McSweeney, the chief of staff to Keir Starmer. The plot thickens. 

However a bigger danger to Starmer, is the fact that Lord Doyle, who was the director of communications for the prime minister - was touted as a possible ambassadorial role. He has no previous experience of foreign affairs and would therefore have been a unique candidate. This was revealed by Sir Ollie Robbins this morning to the select committee. There is - blood in the water and the political sharks, can smell the corpse of a decomposing prime minister. This could be the fatal mistake of bad political leadership and judgement?