# Morgan McSweeney: Starmer’s ‘human shield’ plays the Mandelson blame game

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-daily-t-895223/morgan-mcsweeney-starmer-s-human-shield-plays-the-mandelson-blame-game
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-daily-t-895223/morgan-mcsweeney-starmer-s-human-shield-plays-the-mandelson-blame-game.md
Podcast: [The Daily T](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-daily-t-895223)
Published: 2026-04-28T15:05:11+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/two-minute-briefing/episodes/mcsweeney-title
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/658300edbbd71a00174fea51/e/69f0b9f6f8c663773737f5b1/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-daily-t-895223/episodes/morgan-mcsweeney-starmer-s-human-shield-plays-the-mandelson-blame-game
Duration seconds: 2886

## Resource

Morgan McSweeney has admitted he was worried that Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US “would go wrong” and regretted recommending him – but said the final decision lay with the Prime Minister. Sir Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff, who was sacked over his handling of the saga, answered questions from the foreign affairs select committee, chaired by the gloriously theatrical Emily Thornberry. For the second stop on the Daily T roadshow, Camilla and Tim are joined by a live audience in a Cardiff pub as they dissect the questioning of Mr McSweeney – and what it means for the beleaguered PM. 🎟️ Tickets to our show in Worthing, the final stop of The Daily T roadshow, are limited – book yours now!: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/0/live-event-the-daily-t-on-the-road/ We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X ► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor Producers: Georgia Coan and Lilian Fawcett Senior Producer: John Cadigan Executive Producer: Charlotte Seligman Video Producer: Will Walters Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Editor: Camilla Tominey Highlights Camilla Tominey and Tim Stanley dissect Morgan McSweeney's appearance before MPs Starmer's former chief of staff said he worried Mandelson's appointment "would go wrong" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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## Transcript

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