Parliament was buzzing on Tuesday as the fallout from the Mandelson affair hit Labour hard.
While most MPs stayed silent, one backbencher, the Member for Rugby, Slinger, attempted to defend Sir Keir Starmer—but quickly found himself under fire.
Veteran Tory Sir Desmond Swayne didn’t hold back, delivering a scathing warning about the perils of flattery.
“Those that lick the feet of the unworthy gain nothing for themselves but a dirty tongue!” rasped Sir Des. Slinger, visibly embarrassed, slumped in his seat.
The Commons emergency debate proved more damaging than expected, leaving Sir Keir’s reputation under intense scrutiny.
Opposition figures and even some Labour MPs didn’t hold back, highlighting growing unease within the party.
Tory and SNP MPs Take Aim at Starmer
Kemi Badenoch was quick to seize the moment, scrutinising Sir Keir’s leadership, while SNP MP Stephen Flynn challenged the Prime Minister’s moral authority.
Diane Abbott, who has been a frequent target of criticism from some Starmer allies, stayed quiet during the debate.
The unsettling reality for Downing Street was that some government MPs were surprisingly vocal in critiquing their own leader.
Even normally moderate figures like Florence Eshalomi drew attention to the perceived inequalities within the Labour Party, noting that black women are treated far less favorably than figures like Lord Mandelson.
Labour Backbenchers Show Frustration
RAF veteran Calvin Bailey (Lab, Leyton & Wanstead) was eager to speak early on, but after Slinger faltered, Bailey’s own contribution seemed to disappear into thin air.
Meanwhile, Sir David Davis (Con, Goole & Pocklington) opened proceedings with a detailed rebuke of Lord Mandelson, questioning his suitability for the Washington embassy.
He accused Mandelson of compromising his conscience for financial gain, a line of criticism that even some Labour MPs seemed to quietly acknowledge by leaving the chamber.
Ministers Struggle to Make an Impression
Attendance from ministers was sparse, with the likes of Chris Ward from the Cabinet Office struggling to maintain credibility.
Ward, once a close aide to Starmer, was mocked by opposition MPs for seeming out of depth, making faces and shaking his head in a way that did little to defend Downing Street.
Meanwhile, Johnny Reynolds, the new Chief Whip, stayed focused on the floor, avoiding the spotlight.
Overall, the ministers present appeared more like cannon fodder than defenders of the government, and the mood in the chamber was sharply critical.
Sharp Words and Colourful Imagery
The debate was filled with biting commentary and dramatic imagery.
Kemi Badenoch’s damning assessment—“No courage, no judgement, no backbone”—was echoed by Julian Lewis, who described Mandelson as a “groveling Lord Yum-Yum,” adding that the former powerbroker couldn’t escape his nature.
Even Geoffrey Cox, temporarily putting his legal concerns aside, attended to witness the spectacle.
SNP MP Stephen Flynn didn’t shy away from quoting controversial material from Mandelson, drawing a reminder from the Deputy Speaker about the children present in the gallery.
Lib Dem Jamie Stone noted that constituents were talking almost exclusively about the scandal, predicting it would continue to dominate headlines.
Questions About Parliamentary Integrity
Finally, Sir Alec Shelbrooke compared Sir Keir’s handling of the affair to Boris Johnson’s misleading statements during the Pincher scandal, suggesting Starmer could face similar questions about honesty in the Commons.
The comparison sparked murmurs across the chamber—underscoring the seriousness of the crisis and the pressure now mounting on Labour’s leadership.