# McSweeney in the spotlight: new Mandelson evidence deepens crisis for PM

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/talking-politics-6747759/mcsweeney-in-the-spotlight-new-mandelson-evidence-deepens-crisis-for-pm
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/talking-politics-6747759/mcsweeney-in-the-spotlight-new-mandelson-evidence-deepens-crisis-for-pm.md
Podcast: [Talking Politics](https://stenobird.com/podcast/talking-politics-6747759)
Published: 2026-04-28T17:56:00+00:00
Episode link: https://talking-politics.captivate.fm
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/5c47de39-1139-4068-bce0-83f687439c25.mp3?aw_0_1st.showid=4474dec6-09cf-489b-b8e3-5eaacc239c71&aw_0_1st.episodeid=5c47de39-1139-4068-bce0-83f687439c25
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/talking-politics-6747759/episodes/mcsweeney-in-the-spotlight-new-mandelson-evidence-deepens-crisis-for-pm
Duration seconds: 1573

## Resource

Keir Starmer has faced yet another day of scrutiny over his “disastrous” choice of Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador. On Talking Politics, Robert and Tom unpack why evidence from ex-foreign office official Philip Barton and the PM’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney exposed a series of missed opportunities and errors of judgement to stop the Mandelson appointment. Robert explains why the whole saga shows a “world of surreal madness” at the heart of government, and how it could be “existential” for the PM. Plus, reaction to yet another embarrassment for Starmer across the pond, as a leaked recording of the current US Ambassador threatens to overshadow the King’s state visit…

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