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Health Secretary Wes Streeting has made public his private messages with former UK ambassador to the US, Lord Peter Mandelson, firmly denying that they shared a close friendship. These exchanges, which date back to six months before Mandelson’s appointment in December 2024 and continue to the present, reveal candid reflections on the government’s performance and internal party concerns.
The texts include moments where Streeting expresses serious doubts about Labour’s prospects in upcoming elections. In messages from March 2025, he conveys his fear of losing his parliamentary seat and laments that the party lacks a clear growth strategy. He writes, “I fear we’re in big trouble here – and I am toast at the next election,” and points out electoral setbacks such as losing a previously safe ward to an independent candidate. Streeting also questions the leadership’s ability to answer the vital question of why voters should support Labour.
One topic that comes up prominently is the UK’s stance on Palestinian statehood. In July 2025, Streeting discusses with Mandelson the need to follow France in recognizing a Palestinian state, suggesting that a Commons vote on the matter would be lost if Labour did not take a clear position. Mandelson warns that such moves could jeopardize the two-state solution by provoking further Israeli annexation. Streeting counters by accusing Israel of “rogue state behaviour” and advocates for sanctions targeted at the state itself. These conversations took place ahead of Sir Keir Starmer’s formal announcement in September 2025 that the UK would recognize a Palestinian state, a decision met with strong criticism from the Israeli government and some domestic political factions.
Streeting’s decision to release these messages appears to be a strategic effort to distance himself from Mandelson amid the latter’s recent resignation due to links with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The health secretary acknowledges his own association with Mandelson but stresses they were not close, saying they met about once a year and shared occasional dinners in group settings. Furthermore, Streeting openly reflects on the flawed vetting that allowed Mandelson’s appointment despite his controversial past. He argues for deeper reforms targeting the culture that has historically protected powerful men from accountability. By publishing the messages, Streeting aims to dispel allegations of secrecy, demonstrate political confidence, and connect with Labour members who share similar frustrations about the party’s direction and leadership
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