Judgment day for Starmer?
4/20/202626 min
Keir Starmer has updated the House of Commons on what he knew, and when, in regard to Peter Mandelson’s vetting for the post of UK ambassador to the US. Was what the PM said enough to convince his party and the public that he should not resign?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod
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First 90 secondsPippa Crerar· Host0:00
This is The Guardian.
Keir Starmer· Soundbite0:01
[dramatic music] I should not have appointed Peter Mandelson. I take responsibility for that decision, and I apologize again to the victims of the pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who were clearly failed by my decision.
Speaker 3· Soundbite0:26
This is a man who once said, "I will carry the can for the mistakes of any organization I lead."
Kiran Stacey· Host0:33
He gives every impression of a prime minister in office, but not in power.
Keir Starmer· Soundbite0:38
I know many members across the House will find these facts to be incredible.
Speaker 3· Soundbite0:42
[laughing] That man couldn't lie straight in bed.
Keir Starmer· Soundbite0:45
No, hold on.
Speaker 3· Soundbite0:46
Nobody told me anything. Nobody told me. The question is, why didn't the Prime Minister ask?
Pippa Crerar· Host0:54
[upbeat music] I'm Pippa Carrera.
Kiran Stacey· Host0:55
And I'm Kieran Stacey.
Pippa Crerar· Host0:56
And you're listening to Politics Weekly.
Kiran Stacey· Host0:59
For The Guardian. Pippa, it's nice to be in the same room as you. [laughing] [laughing] I feel like I haven't seen you for a week. We're here in our little, uh, broom cupboard in the parliamentary estate, but you actually haven't been in parliament very much in the last few days. You've been beavering away on a project that I knew nothing about until last Thursday afternoon when it broke, and now the whole country knows about, which was the latest story that might end up bringing down the Prime Minister. Just bring us up to speed a little bit with what you've been doing and, and where we are with the story at the moment.
Pippa Crerar· Host1:28
Well, about early last