The knives are out in the Labour Party as grandee Harriet Harman delivers a withering verdict on Keir Starmer’s leadership, branding him "weak, naive, and gullible."

The Prime Minister is fighting to regain control of his government after the disastrous appointment of Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador imploded spectacularly. Starmer’s public apology to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein—citing Mandelson’s "lies" about his relationship with the pedophile financier—was meant to draw a line under the scandal. Instead, it has poured fuel on the fire.

A "Full Reset" Demanded

Speaking on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Harman, a former deputy leader and current peer, did not mince her words. She dismissed Starmer’s defense that he was deceived, arguing that the appointment should never have happened in the first place.

• The Quote: "To say 'he lied to me' makes it look weak and naive and gullible," Harman said. "It is just completely the wrong thing."
• The Fallout: Harman is calling for a "full reset" of the advisors in Number 10, specifically targeting Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney, whom many MPs blame for the vetting failure.

The Epstein Shadow

The scandal has forced the government to promise the publication of all communications between Mandelson and ministers regarding his appointment. The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) has indicated these files will be released "very shortly," a prospect that is causing panic in Downing Street.

"He has got to stop blaming Mandelson," Harman warned. The implication is clear: the buck stops with the Prime Minister. If Starmer cannot spot a liability like Mandelson, his party is beginning to wonder if he can spot the dangers facing the country.