A day is a long time in politics. A week is an absolute lifetime. Seven days ago Angela Rayner was still in the government – just.
She is now gone, her bombshell departure leaving a gaping wound at the heart of the Labour party. Now it’s the turn of another so-called Big Beast, Peter Mandelson, to stand in front of the firing squad. His close links to dead paedophile Jeffrey Epstein make his position as Britain’s US Ambassador untenable, according to many.
No matter what happens to the Labour Grandee, his appointment as Our Man in Washington seriously draws into question Sir Keir Starmer’s judgement.
It was a risky decision by the Prime Minister, someone who doesn’t usually take political risks.
Lord Mandelson isn’t known as the Prince of Darkness for no reason.
The major problem for the Prime Minister is his continuing defence of the former Cabinet minister is embarrassing the parliamentary Labour Party, and making the Opposition stronger.
A growing number of Labour MPs are worried about the impact of the Mandelson row – just days after Rayner’s resignation as deputy prime minister.
Labour’s lefties are in a particular froth.
Among them was Richard Burgon, who said Lord Mandelson “should never have been appointed”.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy became the first Labour MP to publicly call for the ambassador to resign on Wednesday.
The publication of a letter from Lord Mandelson to Epstein has thrown the spotlight on the pair’s relationship.
The controversy comes just days before President Trump is due to visit the UK for a state visit, another awkward situation for Sir Keir.
Lord Mandelson is highly rated in Downing Street because of his ability to work with the Trump administration.
But his past relationship is increasingly damaging for the Prime Minister.
The difficult questions for the government are likely to continue if, as Lord Mandelson suggests, there are more details to come.
With a civil war brewing over replacing Rayner things are getting worse for the Labour party which has been in power for 14 calamitous months.
Freebie scandals, bumper tax raids, targeting pensioners and a string of ministers losing their jobs has seen Sir Keir’s party plummet in the polls.
But the Rayner and Mandelson affairs leave the Prime Minister in an incredibly weak position.