Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has said Labour briefings are “dripping with misogyny” as several female MPs called on Sir Keir Starmer to end the “boys’ club”.
Ms Nandy said that anonymous government briefings, including from the prime minister’s office, were often held against women and demanded it be stopped.
“Some of the briefings have absolutely been dripping with misogyny. You hear these things about, we’re lazy, we spend too much time with our kids, we don’t spend enough time with all kids – you really can’t win,” she told Times Radio.
“In the end it’s designed to try to keep us down and to try and stop us from being heard.”
It comes as outraged women MPs blasted the government’s handling of Peter Mandelson and Matthew Doyle, telling the prime minister he must end the Downing Street “boys club”.
Harriet Harman used a meeting of female Labour MPs on Wednesday to ask Mr Starmer to appoint a woman as his de facto deputy and resurrect the position of first secretary of state.
The prime minister promised he would consider the idea, MPs inside the meeting told The Independent.
It followed a fiery PMQs, in which Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the PM of “stuffing government with hypocrites and paedophile apologists”.
Read MoreAs Tim Allan quits No 10, will Keir Starmer be the last man standing?
Sadiq Khan says his ‘ultimate goal’ is to reverse Brexit
Will Starmer resign as prime minister and who could replace him?
Key Points
- Starmer urged to appoint a woman as first secretary of state to tackle misogyny
- Furious women MPs turn on Starmer over ‘boys’ club’ scandals
- Foreign Office still cannot say when Mandelson left government employment
- Gordon Brown demands Met Police launch an investigation into Andrew
- Too many 'misogynistic' government briefings against women says Lisa Nandy
'Catastrophic lack of judgement': Ed Davey calls out Starmer on appointment of 'pedophile supporter'
07:10 , Harriette BoucherKeir Starmer demands apology from Sir Jim Ratcliffe over ‘offensive and wrong’ immigration comments
07:00 , Maira ButtSir Keir Starmer has demanded an apology from billionaire Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe after he sparked outrage on Wednesday evening by saying that Britain is being “colonised by immigrants”.
The businessman, who has been living in tax-free Monaco since 2020, is founder and chair of one of the world’s largest chemical companies, Ineos, which was granted £120m in UK state aid to protect jobs last year.
Mr Ratcliffe said that immigration is “costing too much money” due to the number of people “on benefits” in an interview with Sky News on Wednesday.
“You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in,” he said. “I mean, the UK is being colonised. It’s costing too much money. The UK has been colonised by immigrants."
The prime minister hit back in a statement on X on Wednesday, saying: “Offensive and wrong. Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse country. Jim Ratcliffe should apologise.”
Starmer demands apology from Sir Jim Ratcliffe over ‘offensive’ immigration comments
Keir Starmer meets King Charles for first time since Epstein files released
06:30 , Maira ButtPrime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer, attended a special reception at Windsor Castle on Wednesday night, joining the King and Queen to honour carers across the UK.
The royal couple, alongside the Starmers, met with both paid and unpaid carers, as well as representatives from various charities, at the historic Berkshire residence.
In a printed message addressed to his guests, King Charles praised the millions of individuals dedicated to looking after loved ones nationwide.
He also acknowledged the estimated 1.6 million people employed within the adult social care sector.
Keir Starmer meets King Charles for first time since release of Epstein files
Recap: Labour rift deepens as Nandy accuses No 10 briefings of 'dripping with misogyny'
06:00 , Maira ButtSir Keir Starmer was asked to appoint a woman as secretary of state in a bid to end the “boys’ club” that had been exposed by recent scandals.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy added to the comments by suggesting that anonymous No 10 briefings had been “dripping with misogyny”.
Meanwhile, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has sparked controversy after claiming that Britain is being “colonised by immigrants”.
The prime minister demanded that the billionaire Man Utd co-owner apologise for the comments.
Starmer urged to appoint a woman as first secretary of state to tackle misogyny
05:00 , Maira ButtSir Keir Starmer has been urged to bring back the post of first secretary of state and appoint a woman to the role as he addressed female Labour MPs on Wednesday.
Labour grandee Baroness Harriet Harman suggested he revive the post, which functions as a de facto deputy prime minister, and task the appointee with tackling misogyny and the marginalisation of women.
The role was previously held by Peter Mandelson under Gordon Brown.
It comes as Sir Keir was accused of “stuffing Government with hypocrites and paedophile apologists” by Kemi Badenoch during Prime Minister’s Questions.
Watch: Starmer and King appear together at Windsor for first time since Epstein file release
04:00 , Maira ButtPrime Minister Keir Starmer joined King Charles at a Windsor Castle reception to honour UK carers on Wednesday, as he weathers the worst political turmoil of his premiership.
He was accompanied by his wife Lady Victoria Starmer.
Furious women MPs turn on Starmer over ‘boys’ club’ scandals
03:00 , Maira ButtFurious female Labour MPs have called on Sir Keir Starmer to appoint a woman to a powerful new role to end the “boys’ club” culture in No 10 which has been exposed by the Mandelson and Doyle scandals that have rocked his premiership.
Harriet Harman, one of the most senior figures in the party, urged the prime minister to fill the vacant post of first secretary of state – once held by Peter Mandelson – with a female candidate as he addressed the recent chaos during a meeting of female Labour MPs and peers in Parliament.
She said the role must be held by a woman and used to “transform the political culture in government around women and girls”.
Watch: Lisa Nandy says there's been 'far too many' briefings against women in government
02:00 , Maira ButtForeign Office still cannot say when Mandelson left government employment
01:00 , Maira ButtThe Independent’s Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
An SNP MP Stephen Gethins has asked used a parliamentary question to ask the Foreign Office when the now disgraced former US ambassador Peter Mandelson ceased his employment.
You would have thought this would be an easy question to answer.
After all, the PM, we are told, rang him up in Washington to sack him.
However, the FCDO has yet to answer the question - and is understood to be planning to do so only in due course, despite the fact that as a parliamentary question, it was due to be answered two days ago.
Mr Gethins told the Independent: “It is astonishing that weeks on from this latest crisis erupting the government still can’t answer basic questions about Mandelson’s appointment.
“Either they don’t know, which is inexcusable or they don’t want to tell us. The PM has said he will be open about his political appointment of Mandelson but this failure to answer basic questions isn’t a great start.”
Labour MP says female MPs are ‘distressed’ by Mandelson and Doyle scandals
00:01 , Maira ButtWhitehall Editor Kate Devlin:
As Starmer spoke to female Labour MPs in parliament, one told the Independent: “Women I speak to are exhausted from the culture.
“Women simply want respect and that starts with ending the culture at No10.”
She said female MPs were “distressed as we really care about our Party and believe it is a vehicle for ending misogyny and abuse.”
Cabinet secretary to quit in coming days, say reports
Wednesday 11 February 2026 23:30 , Maira ButtCabinet secretary Chris Wormald is set to depart Downing Street in the coming days, according to reports by Channel 4.
Rumours of Mr Wormald’s departures have abounded this week amid a string of other resignations including Lord Matthew Doyle and Sir Keir Starmer’s director of communications, Tim Allan.
It has been widely briefed that Mr Starmer intends to replace him with Antonia Romeo.
Dame Antonia was investigated by the Foreign Office over allegations of bullying, harassment, discrimination and misusing expenses, while serving as Consul General in New York in 2017.
Sarwar defends resignation calls and claims he was 'not part of wider attempt'
Wednesday 11 February 2026 23:00 , Maira ButtScottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said he was “not part of any wider attempt” to force the prime minister to resign.
On Monday, Mr Sarwar held a press conference to call for Keir Starmer to quit.
Wes Streeting called Mr Sarwar two days before the announcement in Glasgow, and the two are said to have discussed the current political situation.
The Scottish Labour leader said Scots deserved to know if he was “willing to call out failure wherever I see it” and act differently as first minister.
“That for me is more important than any given relationship or anything that might matter to the Westminster bubble,” he added.
PM pays tribute to carers as he joins King Charles at Windsor event
Wednesday 11 February 2026 22:30 , Maira ButtPrime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants to give UK carers “equal worth” to that given to politicians while speaking at a Windsor Castle reception hosted by the King and Queen on Wednesday.
The event marked the first time Sir Keir and the King have been seen together since millions of documents associated with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein were released by US authorities.
“I really wanted to come and say thank you, and also because I know first-hand that what carers do is incredible – it is skilled,” he told guests.
“I’ve seen my sister at work – she works with adults with Down syndrome – and I couldn’t do what she does.
“One of my missions, in a sense, is to give equal worth to those like carers who do jobs that I couldn’t do as we give to politicians and those in positions of power.”
Keir Starmer demands apology from Sir Jim Ratcliffe over ‘offensive and wrong’ immigration comments
Wednesday 11 February 2026 22:01 , Maira ButtSir Keir Starmer has demanded an apology from billionaire Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe after he sparked outrage on Wednesday evening by saying that Britain is being “colonised by immigrants”.
The businessman, who has been living in tax-free Monaco since 2020, is founder and chair of one of the world’s largest chemical companies, Ineos, which was granted £120m in UK state aid to protect jobs last year.
Mr Ratcliffe said that immigration is “costing too much money” due to the number of people “on benefits” in an interview with Sky News on Wednesday.
“You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in,” he said. “I mean, the UK is being colonised. It’s costing too much money. The UK has been colonised by immigrants."
The prime minister hit back in a statement on X on Wednesday, saying: “Offensive and wrong. Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse country. Jim Ratcliffe should apologise.”
Starmer demands apology from Sir Jim Ratcliffe over ‘offensive’ immigration comments
Nandy says Labour briefings 'dripping with misogyny
Wednesday 11 February 2026 21:37 , Maira ButtAnonymous briefings held by the Labour party are “dripping with misogyny”, according to culture secretary Lisa Nandy
“I think politics does often operate as a boys’ club and I don’t think that the Labour Party is immune to that,” Ms Nandy told Times Radio.
“I’ve experienced it, but all women in the Labour Party have experienced it. This culture of allowing anonymous briefings to continue, whether they come from inside the Prime Minister’s office, or our offices or anywhere else, we’ve all got a responsibility to stamp that out.
“I think if you look at the people who’ve had the most briefings against them, it’s largely been from men, anonymously, I should say, against women.”
She added: “Some of the briefings have absolutely been dripping with misogyny, you know, you hear these things about, you know, we’re lazy, we spend too much time with our kids, we don’t spend enough time with all kids – you really can’t win.
“In the end it’s designed to try to keep us down and to try and stop us from being heard.”
Starmer tells women MPs he will act on misogyny
Wednesday 11 February 2026 21:00 , Maira ButtSir Keir Starmer reiterated his apology for appointing Lord Peter Mandelson at a meeting of the women's Parliamentary Labour Party.
But he told them an apology "must come with action" and that he looked forward to working with them to tackle misogyny and violence against women and girls, it is understood.
He said more needed to be done to eradicate structural misogyny and achieve real cultural change, and closed his statement by saying he looked forward to joining the Women's PLP meeting again soon.
Will Starmer resign as prime minister and who could replace him?
Wednesday 11 February 2026 20:30 , Maira ButtSir Keir Starmer is clinging on after surviving the toughest day of his premiership so far this week, when Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar became the most senior Labour figure to call for him to quit.
The prime minister has been at the centre of a political storm since admitting he was aware of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein even after his conviction for child sex offences when he appointed him as US ambassador.
Figures across the political spectrum – including MPs in his own party – have been questioning the prime minister’s judgement, with some declaring “it’s over” for him.
Will Starmer resign as prime minister and who could replace him?
Gordon Brown demands Met Police launch an investigation into Andrew
Wednesday 11 February 2026 20:00 , Maira ButtGordon Brown has demanded an in-depth police investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, saying he was “shocked to the core” over recent revelations in the Epstein files.
In a piece published in New Statesman, the former prime minister said: “Rape and sexual abuse in the UK should never become a second-order issue – and never on the pretext of an investigation in another jurisdiction.
“The evidence suggests some in the UK were complicit in trafficking. This demands a full inquiry.”
Mr Brown said he had asked the Met Police to re-examine their decision-making in their investigation and the subsequent reviews immediately.
“Even women who have been mentioned in the Epstein files, whose names should have been requested months ago from the US Department of Justice, do not appear to have been contacted by British investigators.
“I have been told privately that the investigations related to the former Prince Andrew did not properly check vital evidence of flights,” he said.
Furious women MPs turn on Starmer over ‘boys’ club’ scandals
Wednesday 11 February 2026 19:35 , Maira ButtFurious female Labour MPs have called on Sir Keir Starmer to appoint a woman to a powerful new role to end the “boys’ club” culture in No 10 which has been exposed by the Mandelson and Doyle scandals that have rocked his premiership.
Harriet Harman, one of the most senior figures in the party, urged the prime minister to fill the vacant post of first secretary of state – once held by Peter Mandelson – with a female candidate as he addressed the recent chaos during a meeting of female Labour MPs and peers in Parliament.
She said the role must be held by a woman and used to “transform the political culture in government around women and girls”.
Furious women MPs turn on Starmer over ‘boys’ club’ scandals
Keir Starmer joins King at Windsor Castle reception to honour UK carers
Wednesday 11 February 2026 19:20 , Maira ButtPrime Minister Keir Starmer has joined King Charles at a Windsor Castle reception to honour UK carers on Wednesday, as he weathers the worst political turmoil of his premiership.
He was joined by his wife Lady Victoria Starmer.
“My wife and I are delighted to welcome you here this evening as we celebrate and give thanks to those remarkable individuals who dedicate their lives to the care of others,” the King’s message to guests read.
“Across the United Kingdom today, there are some five million people providing unpaid care to a loved one,” he added.
“That is one in every 10 adults who, alongside the demands of their own lives, have taken upon their shoulders the sacred and selfless responsibility of caring for another human being.”
Watch: Lisa Nandy says there's been 'far too many' briefings against women in government
Wednesday 11 February 2026 18:55 , Maira ButtToo many 'misogynistic' government briefings against women says Lisa Nandy
Wednesday 11 February 2026 18:34 , Maira ButtCulture secretary Lisa Nandy has alleged that there have been “far too many” briefings against women in government.
“When I’ve been briefed against by people in the Prime Minister’s circle, I’ve been pretty straight with him about how unacceptable that is,” she said on Peston on Wednesday.
“I believe he is sincere in hating that culture on briefings, particularly briefings against women of which there have been far too many and it has been far too frequent and he is sincere about wanting to stamp that out.”
She added: “We need to see far less of these misogynistic briefings. We need far more women around every table where decisions are being made.”
Foreign Office still cannot say when Mandelson left government employment
Wednesday 11 February 2026 18:22 , Maira ButtThe Independent’s Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
An SNP MP Stephen Gethins has asked used a parliamentary question to ask the Foreign Office when the now disgraced former US ambassador Peter Mandelson ceased his employment.
You would have thought this would be an easy question to answer.
After all, the PM, we are told, rang him up in Washington to sack him.
However, the FCDO has yet to answer the question - and is understood to be planning to do so only in due course, despite the fact that as a parliamentary question, it was due to be answered two days ago.
Mr Gethins told the Independent: “It is astonishing that weeks on from this latest crisis erupting the government still can’t answer basic questions about Mandelson’s appointment.
“Either they don’t know, which is inexcusable or they don’t want to tell us. The PM has said he will be open about his political appointment of Mandelson but this failure to answer basic questions isn’t a great start.”
Badenoch responds to to House of Lords confirming Doyle peerage could have been stopped
Wednesday 11 February 2026 18:07 , Maira ButtKemi Badenoch MP, Leader of the Conservative Party, said on Wednesday: “Keir Starmer did not care about these scandals until they threatened his premiership - all too happy to stuff the Lords with his grubby cronies.
“No matter what excuses he comes up with, the facts are clear. He appointed his former Director of Communications Matthew Doyle as a peer, knew about his association with a paedophile, had the power to act, and yet he still chose to sit on his hands. All the documents must be published. No more cover up.
“Once again Starmer’s terrible judgement is on full display. The real problem is that the country has to suffer through this man’s leadership for the next three years, unless Labour MPs grow a backbone and deal with it.”
Starmer urged to appoint a woman as first secretary of state to tackle misogyny
Wednesday 11 February 2026 17:52 , Maira ButtSir Keir Starmer has been urged to bring back the post of first secretary of state and appoint a woman to the role as he addressed female Labour MPs on Wednesday.
Labour grandee Baroness Harriet Harman suggested he revive the post, which functions as a de facto deputy prime minister, and task the appointee with tackling misogyny and the marginalisation of women.
The role was previously held by Peter Mandelson under Gordon Brown.
It comes as Sir Keir was accused of “stuffing Government with hypocrites and paedophile apologists” by Kemi Badenoch during Prime Minister’s Questions.
Starmer urged to appoint a woman as first secretary of state to tackle misogyny
Keir Starmer, under fire from all sides, responded with anger – but no answers
Wednesday 11 February 2026 17:24 , Maira ButtKeir Starmer knew he was in for a tough time at Prime Minister’s Questions, so he tried two defences. The first was humour.
He recited the usual formula about his engagements for the day. “This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues,” he said, adding: “There have been quite a few of those this week…”
But he couldn’t keep it up, and it might have seemed in poor taste if he had – so he switched to being cross and biting back.
John Rentoul reports:
Keir Starmer, under fire from all sides, responded with anger – but no answers
We must not distract ourselves, says Powell
Wednesday 11 February 2026 17:05 , Jane DaltonDeputy Labour leader Lucy Powell said the government must now show the public "we're not distracted by ourselves", insisting Sir Keir Starmer was ending the week "much stronger than how he started it".
Asked why things had gone so wrong, Ms Powell told an LBC phone-in: "Actually I think what this week has shown... is that the vast majority of the Parliamentary Labour Party and the entire Cabinet are fully behind him and he has their full confidence."
Ms Powell said the government "do need to do things better" and that she had spoken to the Prime Minister about this a lot over the weekend, this week and before it.
She said the government needed to make sure that it was working in a more inclusive way.
Watch: 'Most gullible former director of public prosecutions in history’: Flynn attacks PM on vetting of Doyle and Mandelson
Wednesday 11 February 2026 12:53 , Harriette BoucherPMQs analysis: Starmer looked surprisingly chipper in PMQs
Wednesday 11 February 2026 12:43 , Harriette BoucherAnalysis from The Independent’s Political Editor David Maddox:
Maybe the prime minister really does enjoy coming out fighting when his back is to the wall.
Keir Starmer might well have been fairly expected to be a defeated looking man after the week he has just had with an attempted coup and two scandals involving friends of paedophiles.
But instead he came out swinging and was partly helped by a surprisingly flat Kemi Badenoch who had one good soundbite in her six questions when she accused him of stuffing the Lords with friends of paedophiles.
Somehow though Sir Keir managed to get his sullen backbenchers to start cheering him again as he took swings at first the Tories as “a dying party” and then the Lib Dems for “helping bring about austerity” and finally the SNP for their former chief executive about to go on trial for allegations of corruption.
As PMQs went on he noticeably relaxed and got into his groove.
It was a performance of a man who was not going to leave his job quietly and without a fight.
Watch: Badenoch accuses PM of 'stuffing government with paedophile apologists' amid Lord Doyle row
Wednesday 11 February 2026 12:29 , Harriette BoucherStarmer admits Lord Doyle 'did not give a full account of his actions'
Wednesday 11 February 2026 12:24 , Harriette BoucherFor the first time, Keir Starmer said his former communications chief Lord Matthew Doyle “did not give a full account of his actions” when he was given a peerage despite his ties to a paedophile councillor.
The prime minister elevated Lord Doyle to the House of Lords in December, with the Sunday Times reporting later that month that No10 had investigated Lord Doyle's continued support for Sean Morton after he was charged with indecent child image offences.
Earlier today, education minister Georgia Gould said Downing Street did not know about the relationship before he was made peer.
PMQs analysis: Rattled Starmer makes the best of a bad situation
Wednesday 11 February 2026 12:21 , Harriette BoucherAnalysis from Political Editor David Maddox:
Kemi Badenoch had plenty to shoot out in PMQs with a weakened prime minister Keir Starmer desperately holding on to power.
Not only the Mandelson scandal but also now the appointment of another friend of a paedophile Matthew Doyle to the House of Lords.
Sir Keir decided that the only way to deal with an indefensible position was to come out swinging and attacking the Tories as a “dying party”.
He wanted to talk about Tory defectors to Reform not Labour politicians knee deep in scandal.
Not satisfied with that, his response to Lib Dem leader Ed Davey that his party was responsible for austerity.
He then reminded the SNP’s Westminster leader that his party’s former chief executive is about to go on trial for alleged corruption.
While the responses sound hollow, and the PM looks angry and uncomfortable the tactics have at least got his own Labour MPs cheering behind him and shown a man not willing to bow out without a fight.
Badenoch accuses Starmer of ‘stuffing government with hypocrites and paedophile apologists’
Wednesday 11 February 2026 12:19 , Harriette BoucherMillie Cooke reports:
Kemi Badenoch has launched a brutal attack on Sir Keir Starmer’s record in government, accusing him of “only caring about victims when he is trying to save his own skin” and “stuffing government with hypocrites and paedophile apologists”.
Seizing on the chaos in Labour, the Tory leader said: “The prime minister sometimes likes to claim that he cares about violence against women. The truth is that he only cares about victims when he is trying to save his own skin.
“We saw it with grooming gangs, we saw it with Mandelson. And now we see it with Doyle. Isn’t that what a former prosecutor would call an established pattern of behaviour?”
Hitting back, Sir Keir said: “I’m going to take no lectures from the Tories about standards in public life. She defended Partygate for months and months and months.”
But Mrs Badenoch retorted: “Nobody buys it… not even the Labour women, because they know he always puts the Downing Street boys club first.
“And how dare he criticise us. We weren’t the one stuffing government with hypocrites and paedophile apologists.”
Starmer 'stuffing government with hypocrites and paedophile apologists', says Badenoch
Wednesday 11 February 2026 12:14 , Harriette BoucherBadenoch criticises Starmer for “stuffing” his government with “hypocrites and paedophile apologists”.
She added: “He can’t build a team, he has no plan, he can’t even run his own office, let allow the country.”