'Mandelson files lay bare frustration' and 'The welfare party'

7 hours ago

News image — Messages between Lord Peter Mandelson and ministers revealed in documents published by the government lead many of the front pages on Tuesday. The Guardian focuses on documents showing that Lord Mandelson "was receiving sensitive security briefings about the Foreign Office's work, and was in discussions with the head of MI6, before he had completed the developed vetting process".

The Guardian front page, with the headline "Mandelson files reveal security briefings before vetting passed" and a photograph of Lord Mandelson walking outside. — Messages between Lord Peter Mandelson and ministers revealed in documents published by the government lead many of the front pages on Tuesday. The Guardian focuses on documents showing that Lord Mandelson "was receiving sensitive security briefings about the Foreign Office's work, and was in discussions with the head of MI6, before he had completed the developed vetting process".

"Mandelson files reveal how the PM's authority crumbled" is the headline on the front page of the i Paper. — "1,500 page of documents do not contain any smoking gun" writes the i Paper in its lead story, although they "show how quickly some of [Prime Minister Sir] Keir Starmer's key allies lost faith in his ability to lead the Government". The prime minister's authority "crumbled", the paper concludes.

"Mandy: Hire me, you will not regret it!" is the Metro's headline on its front page. — "Lord Mandelson schmoozed Britain's then-foreign secretary David Lammy by vowing 'I would make sure you never regret it' if he was made US ambassador," the Metro says, branding it an "astonishing boast before doomed job offer".

"Labour's poisonous puppet master and a £1million cover-up," reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Mail. — The Mandelson files "exposed the toxic infighting at the heart of Labour", the Daily Mail says.

"Mandelson's verdict on Starmer: 'Bereft and beleaguered'," reads the headline on the front page of the Independent. — The "Mandelson files" also reveal that the ex-Labour peer said the prime minister's leadership "lacks verve", the Independent reports.

"The Mandelson files: What is left to hide?" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Mirror. — The Daily Mirror describes Lord Mandelson's message to ministers as "extraordinary treachery behind Keir Starmer's back". Another headline reads "King Kev: I've stage four cancer but I don't walk alone" over a photo of former England captain and manager Kevin Keegan.

"Anthropic tests Wall St appetite for AI labs by filing for $1tn-plus listing," reads the headline on the front page of the Financial Times. — The Financial Times leads on Anthropic filing for a listing worth more than $1trn (£743bn), "setting up a three-way race with OpenAI and SpaceX that will test Wall Street's appetite for cash-burning AI labs". It also features the headline: "Mandelson files lay bare frustration at lack of 'verve' in Starmer premiership".

The Daily Telegraph headline is "Every meeting I have is: Who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others?". It appears above a composite photograph of Sir Keir Starmer and minister Pat McFadden in front of a red background. — The Daily Telegraph focuses on taxes – in messages showing Mandelson's criticism of Sir Keir Starmer's government. The Telegraph's headline is not something said by Lord Mandelson, but instead by Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, appearing to complain about Labour backbenchers when he said, "Every meeting I have is: Who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others? They're asking the wrong questions."

"Every meeting I have is: Who can be taxed to pay benefits", reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Express. — "Senior minister's 'extraordinary confession' reveals Labour MPs' welfare demands," reads the crosshead on the Daily Express above the widely reported quote from McFadden: "Who can be taxed to pay benefits?"

"Labour 'only asks who can be taxed to pay benefits'," reads the headline on the front page of the Times. — Continuing with McFadden's messages, the Times writes they "reveal extent of frustration among ministers at Starmer's lacklustre leadership".

"The welfare party" reads the headline on the front page of the Sun. — Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch seizes on McFadden's "complaint" to describe Labour as the "welfare party", the Sun reports. Elsewhere, the paper writes "England's World cup Campaign got off to a flyer yesterday – as captain Harry Kane and his squad arrived in the US after jetting in from Birmingham".

"Kev: My doc's a red. Keegan: I knew I wouldn't be walking alone" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Star. — Ex-Anfield striker Keegan "says he is pleased the doctor treating his cancer is a Liverpool fan", the Daily Star reports. "My Doc's a red," it says. "I knew I wouldn't be walking alone." It is a reference to Liverpool FC's anthem, You'll Never Walk Alone.

The latest documents released by the government relating to Lord Peter Mandelson feature prominently on many front pages. The Guardian says they show that he was given private briefings by the heads of the intelligence agencies while still undergoing security vetting. The Times reports that Lord Mandelson set up meetings between ministers and his lobbying company before his appointment was finalised. The Daily Mail refers to the peer as a "poisonous puppet master", noting the "svengali-like influence" he exerted on the government, and his "withering contempt for the man who leads it".

The Daily Mirror says the messages have revealed Lord Mandelson's "extraordinary treachery", and the i Paper says the messages show "how quickly some of [Prime Minister] Sir Keir Starmer's key allies lost faith in his ability to lead the government". The paper also claims that the peer was advised by civil servants to give "artificial" information about his personal and business connections to vetting staff in order to obtain security clearances.

The Daily Express says Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden's published message that backbench MPs are only interested in "who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others" will "haunt the party for the rest of the parliament and beyond". It compares it to the note left by Liam Byrne for the coalition government in 2010, which said "there is no money left".

The Financial Times says the release of the documents "further undermines" the prime minister and shows Lord Mandelson "sought to wield influence far beyond his role". The Telegraph's editorial notes, of Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador "rarely has a single personnel decision had such serious repercussions for a political leader". The Sun's editorial concludes "voters deserve to know the truth, however depressing. Yesterday, they got it".

Former England captain Kevin Keegan's admission of a stage four cancer diagnosis features in the tabloids. The Mirror praises his "warmth, humour and honesty" in making the news public. The Daily Star hails his courage in announcing the news, calling him "the definition of a football icon".

'Mandelson files lay bare frustration' and 'The welfare party'

Daily Express

Daily Mail

Daily Mirror

Daily Star

Daily Telegraph

Financial Times

Guardian

Independent

Metro

Sun

The i

Times