Starmer is losing senior figures at the rate of one a week

"The current attrition rate of senior figures from the government is running at one a week this autumn. First Angela Rayner resigns as deputy prime minister, knowing she would be sacked if she didn't. Next Lord Mandelson is sacked as the UK's Ambassador in the United States. Each followed a similar pattern. A drip drip of revelations, the prime minister expressing full confidence in them while not in possession of the full facts about them, and then, after a growing sense of inevitability, they're gone."

"The Foreign Office statement pointed to "the depth and extent" of the relationship between Mandelson and Epstein, which Downing Street insist they had nott realised until now and what they described as Mandelson's view "that Jeffrey Epstein's first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged". The BBC understands Mandelson disputes the suggestion that he thought Epstein's conviction was "wrongful". Rather, he privately supported his friend, believed was telling the truth and thought the length of his sentence should be challenged."

The current attrition rate of senior figures from the government is running at one a week this autumn. Angela Rayner resigned as deputy prime minister knowing she would be sacked if she did not. Lord Mandelson was sacked as the UK's Ambassador in the United States after a series of emails emerged. Several ministers reacted with shock and disgust, describing the emails as making them shudder and leaving a bad taste in the mouth. The Foreign Office cited the depth and extent of Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and noted Mandelson's view that Epstein's first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged. Mandelson is reported to have privately supported his friend and believed Epstein was telling the truth.

Read at www.bbc.com