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Question Time ground to a halt as host Fiona Bruce was forced to clarify a point about Peter Mandelson "for legal reasons". A special edition of the long-running BBC current affairs show aired on Friday, May 8, to analyse the results of the local elections. Among the guests was Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake, who was asked if Keir Starmer could survive.

"Not for long, and not because of these election results. These are a symptom of a much wider problem," he said before bringing up the appointment of Peter Mandelson. This forced Bruce to interrupt him as she raised her arms, silencing him. "Can I just say, actually, just for legal reasons, I have to point out that Peter Mandelson denies he acted criminally." Undeterred, Hollinrake continued: "You can't deny that Keir Starmer appointed him as the ambassador for the UK to the US, a man who'd had to resign twice in scandal. So it was a poor decision," he said.

"The Chagos Islands, a poor decision. The winter fuel allowance, the removal of that from pensioners, is a poor decision.

"The family farm tax, family business tax...and this is why the government is falling apart under the leadership of Keir Starmer.

"He's not up to job - I'm sorry to say that but he's simply not. But I think sooner or later, enough Labour back benchers or cabinet ministers will go to the Prime Minister and say: 'It's time for you to go'.

And I don't think there could be days, but I think it may be weeks or months, but he will not get to the next election," he predicted.

The prime minister came under pressure last month after it emerged Peter Mandelson was appointed to the role of UK ambassador to the US despite security concerns.

Mandelson was given the role in December 2024 but sacked the following September when the extent of his links to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein came to light following the release of emails between the pair.

No 10 subsequently said red flags in the vetting process were not disclosed by the Foreign Office.

Starmer has denied accusations he misled MPs over whether vetting for the role of US ambassador followed "full due process".