In a dramatic display at the Commons, Sir Keir Starmer appeared to be losing composure in real-time. The Prime Minister seemed devoid of solutions, appealing desperately for leniency from the assembly, yet found no sympathy. The scene was reminiscent of a balloon slowly deflating, the air seeping out with every passing moment.

Kemi Badenoch was relentless, continuing to challenge him. The former star prosecutor, who had previously criticized Boris Johnson over something as trivial as a birthday cake, now faced a far graver scandal involving accusations of sexual misconduct, betrayal of Cabinet confidences, financial greed, and a diplomatic blunder in Washington, D.C. Labour backbenchers observed their leader in silence, creating a chilling atmosphere of disapproval.

Initially, a few supporters, including Matt Turmaine from Watford, had vocally backed Sir Keir upon his arrival just before noon. However, as Badenoch pressured him further, forcing him to acknowledge his prior knowledge of Mandelson’s compromised background, Turmaine and others fell silent.

Amidst the tense silence, Badenoch’s questioning continued with unwavering intensity. Her demeanor was calm and commanding. For the third time, she demanded clarity on whether Mandelson’s vetting had revealed his controversial ties. Sir Keir could no longer evade the truth and admitted, “Yes, it did.”

Witnessing the Prime Minister’s vulnerability at the despatch box was unnerving for his allies. Treasury’s Lucy Rigby, one of his closest supporters, averted her eyes. Wes Streeting fixed his gaze on the Tory front bench, while Yvette Cooper maintained a stiff, uncomfortable posture. Trade Secretary Peter Kyle attempted to converse with Streeting, but his efforts went unnoticed.

On the Labour backbenches, reactions varied: Torcuil Crichton from the Western Isles stroked his beard in contemplation, Peregrine Moon from Camborne frowned, and Jess Asato from Lowestoft stared at the ceiling in frustration. Even the staunch loyalist John Slinger from Rugby turned red-faced, while Graeme Downie from Dunfermline sat tensely. Sir Keir’s parliamentary aide, Jon Pearce, could not contain his nervous fidgeting.

At PMQs Sir Keir Starmer said Peter Mandelson’s ‘lying’ was ‘beyond infuriating’, but behind him sat a sullen parliamentary party of Labour MPs

Through the whistling stillness, writes Quentin Letts, came Kemi Badenoch’s insistent interrogations – she was cool and shimmeringly superior to the prime minister

Sir Keir said Mandelson ‘lied and lied and lied’. The task of a prime minister – and, surely, star prosecutor – is to be worldly and see through such deceits. It was ‘beyond infuriating’, spluttered Sir Keir. ‘There was a process.’ And again, with constipated desperation: ‘There was a process!’ Behind him sat a sullen parliamentary party going through the process of mourning.

After PMQs came points of order. Sir Keir, scalded, skedaddled. Soon we were into the Conservatives’ opposition-day debate calling for all the Mandelson papers to be published. Sir Keir had tried to insist on a limiting amendment. That position was soon abandoned.

Angela Rayner, slender and in feline isolation, joined the rebellion. She read her intervention from a prepared script. What a business politics is. They slink back and slide the stiletto between former comrades’ collarbones. Mrs Rayner betrayed no emotion, no excitement. There was a bloodlessness to her that chilled the neck.

Minister at the box was Nick Thomas-Symonds, Paymaster General. Would-be Labour interveners assailed him, bees swarming a lion. At one point six of them were on their feet, all shouting ‘will he give way?’, none helpful. The government had lost control. The decks were being overrun by mutiny.

Dame Emily Thornberry was in shiny new bovver boots. Dame Meg Hillier was in no mood for obedience. The Speaker told the minister not to hide behind any police investigation. Mr Thomas-Symonds’s distinctive neck twitch was soon working triple-time.

The Leader of the House, Sir Alan Campbell, invited Mrs Rayner outside for a conflab. Ministers started urgently to consult mobile telephones as the wording of the government climbdown reached them. The Corbynites turned feral, Richard Burgon (Lab, Leeds E) accusing the Starmerites of ‘a nasty factionalism’. Ha! The Left was on the rampage, recolonising tracts of territory long held by moderates. New Labour was on fire, Blairism dead.

Paula Barker (Lab, Liverpool Wavertree) said of Mandelson that ‘his nose was firmly in the trough’. So long as it was only his nose, m’dear.