Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think the Prime Minister cannot stay in post?

193 replies

Bertiebiscuit · 20/04/2026 15:09

So our Prime Minister is doing what he does best - blaming someone else for his own mistakes. But i really think he's done for this time - if he didn't know he's incompetent, if he did know he's lying to Parliament and the whole country. Either way i don't see how he can expect to keep his job. It's frightening how little he cared for Mandelson 's cosying up to a sex abuser, paedophile and human trafficker.

OP posts:
TemperanceWest · 20/04/2026 16:22

Dragonscaledaisy · 20/04/2026 15:31

The man should show some integrity and resign. If the Labour party can't find anyone suitable to replace him then call an early general election. The country needs stability not Starmer's endless stupidity, lies and psychodramas.

The likely outcome of a GE right now would be a hung Parliament. So more instability.

Ablondiebutagoody · 20/04/2026 16:19

sittingonabeach · 20/04/2026 16:13

It is very concerning that the vetting process/outcome was not shared to Prime Minister when it failed

It is more concerning that the Prime Minister appointed Peter Mandelson before the vetting was complete, even though he was specifically warned not to do so. Then pretended not to hear any of the subsequent reports that he'd failed the vetting. Why was Starmer in such a rush to install a man with such a dodgy reputation?

senua · 20/04/2026 16:17

landlordhell · 20/04/2026 16:14

This. I think Starmer is a decent man with a long term vision and he’s had to take on so much shit that the Conservatives left.

Edited
Show quote history

Are you blaming the Mandelson thing on the Conservatives? LOL

ProudAmberTurtle · 20/04/2026 16:15

His own MPs are turning on him in the house now

landlordhell · 20/04/2026 16:15

ProudAmberTurtle · 20/04/2026 16:13

Let's not forget as well - Trump didn't want Mandy as ambassador, Britain's top civil servant told him not to announce the appointment until after the vetting was done and it was in the public domain since September 2025 that he failed the vetting process.

As Diane Abbot said: Starmer's defence is "nobody told me" but our question is "why didn't he ask?"

There are processes for everything and the top person does not ask if every part is ok every day.

ProudAmberTurtle · 20/04/2026 16:14

NellieJean · 20/04/2026 16:12

He will stay in post if the Conservatives try a vote of confidence they will lose. He hasn’t misled the house so he can’t be forced to resign. Peter Mandelson should never have been appointed not because of any security concerns but because he’s a greedy, dishonest grifter.

He has misled the house - his own spokesman admitted this this afternoon and said Starmer would admit this in the house as well. Starmer then didn't admit it.

It's one shambles after another!

landlordhell · 20/04/2026 16:14

HRTQueen · 20/04/2026 15:23

No he should not go

While the choice of Mandelson was questionable he was not informed of all the information

He is PM, it is not his role to oversee that people pass a vetting process that is for others to do and report back

What do you expect Starmer to be doing exactly, reading over CV's and references

This. I think Starmer is a decent man with a long term vision and he’s had to take on so much shit that the Conservatives left.

sittingonabeach · 20/04/2026 16:13

It is very concerning that the vetting process/outcome was not shared to Prime Minister when it failed

ProudAmberTurtle · 20/04/2026 16:13

Let's not forget as well - Trump didn't want Mandy as ambassador, Britain's top civil servant told him not to announce the appointment until after the vetting was done and it was in the public domain since September 2025 that he failed the vetting process.

As Diane Abbot said: Starmer's defence is "nobody told me" but our question is "why didn't he ask?"

NellieJean · 20/04/2026 16:12

He will stay in post if the Conservatives try a vote of confidence they will lose. He hasn’t misled the house so he can’t be forced to resign. Peter Mandelson should never have been appointed not because of any security concerns but because he’s a greedy, dishonest grifter.

Johnogroats · 20/04/2026 16:12

foreversunshine · 20/04/2026 15:20

We've had four prime ministers in 5 years - it's the most rapid turnover of leadership in nearly a century and one of the most volatile periods in British political history. Why are we in such a flap to make it 5 in 5?

I'm no fan of Starmer and didn't vote for him - but is the Mandelson thing affecting his ability to do the day-to-day duties of his job?

Looking for a political leader who has impeccable morals and never tells lies is like chasing rainbows.

Can we have some bloody stability, just for a little while?!

Quite. Starmers political judgment isn’t great, but he’s still a massive improvement on the last few PMs. I fail to understand why so many have it in for him.

Ablondiebutagoody · 20/04/2026 16:12

I think that it will be interesting to see Olly Robbins in front of the committee tomorrow. I suspect that we will see what proper, straightforward honesty and integrity looks like. As opposed to Starmer's brand of slopey shouldered, slippery, bullshit.

MrsHGWells · 20/04/2026 16:12

Starmer needs to fall on his sword.. he can no longer continue the charade & deny all knowledge. He is using his staff as shields.

As PM (legally qualified) he should be well versed in upholding higher morale standards and obeying due protocol vetting to all senior roles representing UK. The cover up reeks of internal chaos and double standards.

sittingonabeach · 20/04/2026 16:11

He isn’t coming across very well, stumbling over his words

HRTQueen · 20/04/2026 16:10

TheNoonBell · 20/04/2026 15:57

To vote in a government that might actually want to help Britain.

Show quote history

We had an election in 2024 and people voted for Labour and they won with a considerable number of votes and seats in parliament

This is how the voting system works in a democracy. The country is in a mess, not Labours doing and will take years to get on a better footing

We do not have elections every time people are not happy with the government or we would be having an election every year

ProudAmberTurtle · 20/04/2026 16:09

He's not done a good job defending himself at the despatch box.

It was everyone else's fault but his, and then failed to answer any of the questions that contradict his narrative.

He'll obviously be gone soon - his own MPs are now leaking about him.

senua · 20/04/2026 16:07

I'm no fan of Starmer and didn't vote for him - but is the Mandelson thing affecting his ability to do the day-to-day duties of his job?
It shows very poor judgement. He should never have got rid of the existing, perfectly good Ambassador. He should never have appointed PM. He should have double/treble/quadruple checked the vetting on him. He should have checked details before misleading Parliament ...
Shall I go on?

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 20/04/2026 16:00

Well, what else would be early elections called for?

letsallchant · 20/04/2026 16:00

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 20/04/2026 15:41

For Parliament?

Show quote history

Tell me you don't understand how the UK parliamentary system works without telling me..

TheNoonBell · 20/04/2026 15:57

HRTQueen · 20/04/2026 15:24

An early election

what for exactly ?

To vote in a government that might actually want to help Britain.

HRTQueen · 20/04/2026 15:57

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 20/04/2026 15:41

For Parliament?

Show quote history

For parliament ?

Starmer (if pushed to leave) will not be calling an election Labour will still be in government what makes you think he would call an election

HRTQueen · 20/04/2026 15:54

Theolittle · 20/04/2026 15:32

This is not his psycho drama this is the billionaire owned right wing press constantly coming for him

Show quote history

I do not think it is only the right wing press

it is coming from inside the Labour party too

KeyLimeCake · 20/04/2026 15:51

Another thread on this.

Who should replace him? I can't think of someone from current Labour that I would prefer.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 20/04/2026 15:41

HRTQueen · 20/04/2026 15:24

An early election

what for exactly ?

For Parliament?

InterestedDad37 · 20/04/2026 15:40

Why are Brits so obsessed with getting someone too stand in front of them and say "I'm sorry"? After a while it just becomes totally meaningless. Someone chose to overlook the fact that Mandelson is, and always has been a complete grifter. However, he probably WAS someone who knew how to handle Trump.
Now he's gone, he'll probably end up with a fine or prison, let's just let someone do the job of PM. 🤷

Swipe left for the next trending thread