Peter Mandelson suggested Keir Starmer behave in more 'Trumpian' fashion

In exchanges included in a significant release of files on Monday, Peter Mandelson accused former prime minister Gordon Brown of trying to undermine Keir Starmer

Then foreign secretary David Lammy and British ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson during a welcome reception at the ambassador's residence in Washington, DC in 2025. A handwritten note from Mandelson to Lammy said the government would 'never regret' appointing him as ambassador to Washington DC. File picture: Carl Court/PA

Peter Mandelson exchanged WhatsApp messages with a senior cabinet minister criticising Keir Starmer’s lack of “verve” and tendency to buckle under pressure, suggesting the prime minister should behave in a more “Trumpian” fashion.

The former US ambassador said No 10 was “beleaguered and bereft” and that the public were “crying out for leadership”. In another exchange, he described both the advisers and policy coming out of No 10 as “rubbish in, rubbish out”.