Starmer must quit over Mandelson appointment, says Polanski

Politics
7 Feb 2026 • 8:18 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called for Sir Keir Starmer to resign over the appointment of Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the US.
  • Polanski described Starmer's decision as a “catastrophic level of misjudgment”, claiming it erodes public confidence in politics.
  • He alleged that Starmer was aware of Mandelson's continued association with a “notorious paedophile” before making the appointment.
  • Polanski made these remarks while campaigning in Gorton and Denton, highlighting public anger with the Labour government.
  • Labour's deputy leader Lucy Powell responded, warning that a vote for the Green Party could inadvertently benefit Reform UK in the by-election.

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