February 7th – spies, lies and high finance…

The world is the grip of Epstein fever. In the UK tho, you’d think his criminal activity was exclusive to England. Last night or rather early this morning, the World Service explained that the Crown Princess of Norway and high profile politicians there, as well as a Slovakian had been tainted by association with him.

The weirdest – well not weird at all actually – thing is that two Russian sourced news agencies have claimed that President Macron is involved. He isn’t. Why would they do this? To topple governments.

In the meantime Peter Mandelson, the Prince of Darkness, or Mandy to his friends, looks set to be arrested for sharing sensitive information about the British economy with Epstein during his tenure as Business Secretary to the UK government. Although supposed to liaise with other financial powers, it would seem to some that he’s overstepped the line on the side of treason.

The question today then is whether Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour PM, will survive, after having appointed Mandelson as ambassador to the US shortly after Trump was elected, a bit over a year ago.

Under Blair, Mandelson negotiated the Good Friday agreement in Northern Ireland – Mo Mowlam had done so much preparatory work there, but with his reputation for ruthlessness, Mandelson got it done.

So, as a match – ruthlessness with ruthlessness, he is sent to Washington, having retracted (and apologised for) all he’d said previously about the present incumbent of the White House.

Humans form clubs. If you went to the right school, if you’re rich, if you hold high office you’re automatically in a club that no one else can join. People not in this group will attempt to follow and emulate the behaviours evidenced. People in the group see themselves as superior to the rest of us – literally above the authorities that govern the ‘ordinary’ people.

Is it possible to be ruthless but not arrogant? I don’t think so. Arrogance can lead a person over a precipice in the mistaken belief they can fly.

Mandelson survived two falls from grace, I don’t think he’ll survive this one. But what of Starmer?

I hope the PM does survive. He’s a careful, thinking man and I believe he’s honest. He isn’t mentioned in the Epstein files as far as we know. The network of a man like Epstein is mafioso in modus operandi – I do you a favour, then I’ll call you in at a suitable time. It’s toxic and poisons everything.

So how do you know one of your ministers is a spy? You don’t. Who draws the line in the sand demarcating boundaries between what is appropriate? This could be for a jury to decide.

What a mess. The Anthony Blunt affair didn’t bring down the government, but perhaps those were kinder times. The hideous nature of Epstein’s invidious empire is far worse and it’s at the heart of the US administration as well as the UKs, it seems.

I’d choose boring but dependable and matter of fact over bling anytime. All that glitters is not gold. A state secret shared is a state secret shared. If you’ve overstepped the mark because you think you can, it’s not good.

Please stay, Sir Keir. We need a calm thinker at the moment. This isn’t because I particularly like him, but it is because there is no one to replace him.