Sunday round up

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

Peter Kyle: Tulip Siddiq will lose job if inquiry finds her guilty of breaking ministerial code The Conservatives have called for the prime minister to sack anti-corruption Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq after she herself became part of a corruption investigation. Reports have emerged that Siddiq may have been living in properties linked to her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, who is being investigated for allegedly embezzling up to £3.9bn whilst serving as prime minister of Bangladesh. Siddiq has referred herself to the ethics advisor, but on Sky News, Trevor Phillips asked Science Secretary Peter Kyle whether Siddiq should stand down while the investigation takes place. Kyle said that Siddiq had ‘done exactly

This week the prime minister and Foreign Secretary David Lammy flew to the US for discussions involving whether to allow Ukraine to fire long-range missiles into Russian territory. Putin responded by warning he would view that outcome as ‘direct participation’ of Nato in the conflict. Speaking to Trevor Phillips on Sky News, Lammy talked up the West’s increased support for Ukraine, but would not confirm any decision regarding the long-range missiles specifically, saying the UK’s allies were continuing to ‘discuss the detail’. Phillips pointed out that Zelensky keeps reminding the West that delays in support mean more Ukrainian lives are lost. Lammy said the UK has already repeatedly disregarded Putin’s

With the vaccine rollout exceeding expectations, the government now faces pressure from its own side of the House to lift the current lockdown as fast as possible. The Covid Recovery Group, chaired by the former chief whip Mark Harper, has sent a letter to the PM which has been endorsed by 63 MPs calling for all restrictions to be lifted after the nine designated vulnerable groups have received their vaccines – which is forecast for the end of April. Appearing on Sophy Ridge on Sunday, foreign secretary Dominic Raab set out the government’s position: DR: I don’t think you can set an arbitrary target, and not be evidence led… which is

John McDonnell – Priti Patel likely ‘on the way out’ The Shadow Chancellor joined Sophy Ridge, and the conversation quickly turned to Home Secretary Priti Patel. Yesterday the Home Office’s top civil servant Sir Philip Rutnam, accusing Patel of bullying, resigned and announced his intention to sue the government for unfair dismissal. McDonnell suggested an investigation into Patel’s conduct, but made clear what he thought the result would be: JM: [It’s] interesting this morning what I hear from No. 10 – that the Prime Minister only has confidence in his cabinet, not specifically Priti Patel. It looks as though she’s on the way out. We need more direction from PM