Politics · 1 June 2026
Mandelson says Starmer and Cabinet lack verve
Chris McAndrew via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
New documents show a top Labour figure thinks Keir Starmer and his Cabinet aren't energetic enough, raising questions about their leadership. Lord Mandelson wrote in May 2025 that 'Keir lacks verve as does the Cabinet as a whole' in messages with Pat McFadden. He also said they needed 'more people who can execute' after Labour's losses in local elections.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs