Did a “boys club” culture of Downing Street lead to the appointment of Peter Mandelson ?

Mace | 29th April 2026 | Comment, Editor's Pick, Politics
Dan Kitwood
Dan Kitwood

Keir Starmer's "boys club" culture was called out during the grilling of Morgan McSweeney.

As Lib Dem leader Ed Davey rightly said, the ‘original sin’ of the Mandelson vetting scandal was that the Labour peer was put up for the role of US ambassador in the first place.   This point was hammered home by Dame Emily Thornberry during the grilling of Morgan McSweeney in the House of Commons today, where she pressed him about the attempts to give the former director of communications, Lord Matthew Doyle, a comfortable ambassadorial role.   Dame Emily hit out: “Haven't you heard of the phrase jobs for the boys?”  She added it was “shameful” that Downing Street even considered giving someone a landing spot after they were sacked.   Matthew Doyle was suspended for his association with a charged distributor of indecent images of children.  However, Dame Emily’s argument also rings true for the con...

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