Mandelson’s Scathing Take on Streeting Revealed in Leaked Messages
Revelations from leaked WhatsApp messages belonging to disgraced peer Peter Mandelson have exposed a particularly critical and dismissive attitude towards Wes Streeting, the former Shadow Health Secretary. The exchanges, which occurred during Mandelson’s tenure as the UK’s ambassador to the US, paint a picture of disparagement from the New Labour architect concerning Streeting’s political maturity and handling of sensitive foreign policy issues, particularly concerning Israel and Palestine.
The messages, sent between March and September of last year, detail private conversations between Lord Mandelson and senior Cabinet minister Pat McFadden. These informal chats, reportedly filled with gossip about other Labour figures, have now brought to light Mandelson’s unflattering assessments of his fellow party member.
“An Early Mid-Life Crisis”
In one notable exchange on 25 July last year, Lord Mandelson confided in Mr. McFadden, then the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, about a lengthy and what he described as a “wild long hysterical message” he had received from Wes Streeting regarding Israel. Mandelson expressed his disapproval of Streeting’s communication, stating, “I pushed back. I can forward but reflects pretty badly on his maturity in my view.”
Mr. McFadden’s response indicated that Streeting was indeed very vocal on the matter, noting, “He is very active on the MPs WhatsApp groups on this subject.”
Later, on 29 July, the conversation took a more pointed turn. Mr. McFadden informed Mandelson that Streeting had “circulated a series of videos and a note… to the whole Cabinet in advance of the meeting.” Lord Mandelson’s reaction was blunt: “It is pathetic,” he replied, before adding his damning assessment: “I think Wes is experiencing an early mid life crisis.”
This sentiment was seemingly triggered by a social media post from the US State Department, which Lord Mandelson had shared with Mr. McFadden. The post detailed the rejection by the Donald Trump administration of a UN-hosted two-state solution conference in New York.
Streeting’s Own Stance on Palestine
The leaked messages also shed light on Wes Streeting’s own strong views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as expressed in his own WhatsApp communications with Lord Mandelson on 24 July last year. These messages, which Streeting himself had previously released, reveal his conviction that the UK should formally recognise a Palestinian state, aligning with France’s position.
Streeting articulated his reasoning with a dual moral and political imperative:
- Moral Argument: He argued that recognition was morally necessary because “Israel is committing war crimes before our eyes.” He elaborated on this by stating that the Israeli government’s rhetoric mirrored that of “ethnic cleansing,” and he had personally heard accounts from UK medics describing “the most chilling and distressing scenes of calculated brutality against women and children.”
- Political Argument: Streeting foresaw a political challenge, anticipating that a Commons vote on recognition would be engineered in September. He believed the Labour party would “lose it if we’re not ahead of it.” He stressed that individuals like himself and Shabana Mahmood would be unable to abstain or vote against recognition, predicting a significant public display of support for Palestine, with “moderates” also waving Palestinian flags. His conclusion was that Labour “need to be leading the charge on this,” warning that the alternative would be to be “dragged there with enormous damage to Keir, the govt and the party.”
These revelations emerge at a time of significant political flux within the Labour party. Wes Streeting resigned as Shadow Health Secretary last month, citing a loss of confidence in Keir Starmer’s leadership. He is now widely expected to be a contender in any future contest to replace the Prime Minister. The leaked messages offer a stark glimpse into the internal dynamics and sharp criticisms that can exist within the highest echelons of political discourse.
