the “meep meep” 18 seconds in has me crying like where did that sound come from

🔴 There were plenty of high-drama moments, described by one senior Government source as “bombshells”. But the disappointed tone of Sir Olly Robbins’s evidence gave away an even more concerning fact: Whitehall is turning against Sir Keir Starmer. Read Tony Diver's full

The Man Nobody Is Talking About. His Name Is Sir Philip Barton. Buried inside Tuesday's committee testimony, beneath the headlines about constant pressure, bullying and secret job searches, is the detail that may prove the most consequential of this entire affair. It concerns

🔴 Sir Olly Robbins fielded 162 questions during his two-and-a-half-hour appearance at the hands of the foreign affairs committee. Many proved to be headline makers as MPs pushed and prodded at the extraordinary back and forth which led up to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as

Pat McFadden is the most skilful firefighter in the Cabinet. And he's been made to look a complete muppet on national television. As I said, No.10's increasingly ludicrous attempts to defend the indefensible are now contaminating everything and everyone in the Government.

I'm told the Foreign Affairs select committee is seeking to call Philip Barton to give evidence.

The Mandelson vetting scandal will have a long tail and will continue to haunt Starmer for months to come We reveal in our splash today that the Foreign Affairs select committee will ask Morgan McSweeney, the PM's chief of staff, and Sir Philip Barton, the former perm sec at the

Keir Starmer claims Olly Robbins said he was not under pressure to greenlight Mandelson. But the rest of us who watched his evidence heard the opposite - he repeatedly spoke of pressure being exerted by No10.

Exclusive form ollie cole This is likely to be the last PMQs of the parliamentary session The prime minister is planning to send MPs away next Tuesday, more than a week before the public goes to the polls for the elections on May 7. It won't be back until May 13

It appears the Government’s position is that Olly Robbins was dismissed for not telling the Prime Minister about a document with ‘red flags’ saying Mandelson shouldn’t receive clearance. Olly told us yesterday that he has ‘never seen’ such a UKSV document. So has Sir Olly been

🚨 BREAKING: Morgan McSweeney has been summoned to appear at the Foreign Affairs Committee next Tuesday to answer questions on Peter Mandelson's vetting [The Guardian]

As I said, this scandal will simply run and run...

Another HUGE national security scandal is brewing for Starmer, this time with Jonathan Powell. Starmer suspiciously dodged question at PMQs on what clearance Powell held as Chagos envoy. 🔥There’s no evidence Powell passed DV for NSA role.🔥

I’m told Starmer was simply supposed to stick to quoting Robbins. But by extemporising he made a statement himself that is a provable untruth. Understand they are especially concerned about what Robbins predecessor Sir Phillip Barton will say on the issue.

🚨 NEW: A Cabinet Minister says they have now lost confidence in Keir Starmer and expect the Cabinet to move against him [The i Paper]

If I were Keir Starmer, I’d quit now over the Mandelson scandal - before the May local elections, which will be a historically humiliating repudiation of his entire agenda.

Obviously a lot of attention on McSweeney. But within No.10 this is the appearance that is giving them most concern.

Little Stopped Mid-Sentence. She Cited National Security. The Question Is Why. There is a moment in Thursday's committee testimony that has received almost no attention. It lasted perhaps ten seconds. It may be the most important thing said in any parliamentary hearing since

Latest on Starmer: * Ministers and officials believe he made catastrophic blunder at PMQs when he diverted from lines on Robbins * One Minister says they think we will be forced to resign next week after Barton gives evidence * Consensus is Standards investigation now inevitable