The Epstein Class implodes...
Lessons of Labour's relationship with Mandelson must be learned fast
[Like everyone else I am writing with imperfect information. I have no sight-lines into what the Intelligence and Security Committee will find, and have no view on “what probably happened”. My first take on the wider Epstein revelations was published on Monday in The New World. I spoke earlier this week to James Coomarasamy on BBC’s The World Tonight about my experiences with Mandelson at the time he was alleged to be leaking market-sensitive information. Here I offer some provisional thoughts on what it means for the political party I support…]
I’ve been saying for months that British social democracy is facing a situation unprecedented in its history: the return of zero sum economics; the emergence of great power competition: a far right radicalisation much more dangerous than in the Mosley era, and cognitive warfare by Russia.
The crisis triggered by the discovery of Peter Mandelson’s persistent links with Epstein, the criminal investigation and the reported espionage risks dramatises all these challenges.
What I keep coming back to is the scale of the misogyny and entitlement of these disgusting people.
The Labour Party was founded to fight them and it should be a source of shame that we let someone so tainted by that world work their way to a position of influence.
But if we address the situation calmly there are political solutions - provided Labour MPs are prepared to be simultaneously radical and astute.
