The second tranche of the Mandelson files has been released, revealing a trove of embarrassing WhatsApp conversations and text messages exchanged between Labour cabinet ministers. The leaked communications include discussions about Donald Trump and Keir Starmer's leadership, exposing the kind of behind-the-scenes political maneuvering that could damage the Prime Minister beyond rescue.
Among the most striking revelations is a handwritten letter from Peter Mandelson to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, in which the veteran political operator wrote that he would make sure Lammy never regretted it if he were minded to appoint him as ambassador to Washington. Mandelson argued that navigating British interests through the Trump administration would require superhuman skills.
The irony of Mandelson's self-assessment was not lost on commentators, particularly given that the Trump administration had made clear they did not want Peter Mandelson as the British ambassador. This revelation suggests that Mandelson's appointment proceeded despite American objections, a diplomatic misstep that may have complicated the already strained transatlantic relationship.
The WhatsApp messages and texts are particularly damaging because they are informal communications rather than formal documents, meaning the restraint typically expressed in official correspondence is entirely absent. The unfiltered language reveals ministers attacking each other, engaging in gossip and intrigue that paints an unflattering picture of the government's internal dynamics.
Political analysts describe the files as offering an unprecedented insight into the backstabbing and power games that characterize the current Labour government. The revelations come at an especially sensitive time, with what some are calling the most critical by-election in a century approaching, making the timing of the leaks particularly damaging for the party.
Mandelson's role as a political advisor to ministers both before and after becoming ambassador raises additional questions about the blurring of lines between diplomatic duty and political operations. The files suggest he continued to provide strategic advice to cabinet colleagues while serving as ambassador, potentially compromising the independence expected of diplomatic appointments.
The fallout from the Mandelson files is expected to dominate British political discourse in the coming days. For Keir Starmer, whose leadership is directly discussed in several of the leaked communications, the challenge is to prevent the revelations from becoming a defining narrative of dysfunction and disloyalty within his government at a moment when public trust in politicians is already fragile.