Coffee House Shots Prince of Darkness sacked (again)
Sep 11, 2025
Neil O'Brien, Conservative MP for Loughborough and minister for policy renewal and development, joins the hosts to dissect the political drama surrounding Peter Mandelson's sacking. They dive into the controversies about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and the urgent calls for transparency in vetting processes. O'Brien reflects on the challenges facing the Tory party's leadership and discusses the need for strategic improvements amidst governance failures. The conversation expands on welfare reform and offers insights into the party's need to regain public confidence.
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Behind-the-Scenes In The Commons
- Neil describes waiting through transport questions while Mandelson's resignation was being prepared in the 'reasons room'.
- He recounts editing his urgent question speech as the government scrambled to react.
Appointment Risk And Need For Vetting Files
- Neil O'Brien argues the Mandelson appointment was always risky and inevitable to end badly.
- He says Parliament should see the vetting files to resolve whether it was ignorance or bad judgement.
Private Faults Versus Public Performance
- Tim Shipman says Mandelson's private failings differ from his public competence as an ambassador.
- He notes Mandelson helped secure a tech deal and improved US relations before the scandal hit.