Starmer Trust Crisis, Mandelson Row & UK Security Fears
21 April 2026

Starmer Trust Crisis, Mandelson Row & UK Security Fears

Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins

About

Is Keir Starmer facing a growing crisis of trust? With mounting pressure over the Mandelson vetting row, calls are intensifying for Keir Starmer to come clean about what he knew — and when.


Former No.10 adviser Oscar Reddrop and Jill Rutter from the Institute for Government assess the political fallout, including demands from Kemi Badenoch for transparency and accountability over alleged red flags.


Brendan O’Neill joins to discuss wider concerns about public safety and policing, following reports of attacks targeting synagogues and fears of foreign-linked extremism on UK soil — raising urgent questions about national security and community protection.


From the Mandelson controversy and political accountability to terror threats, policing and public trust, we ask whether confidence in government and institutions is being seriously tested.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.