Newslinks for Monday 16th February 2026
This isn't complicated—it's willpower.
Chagos deal architect ‘considers No 10 exit’ and Starmer under fire over Labour group’s journalist smears
“The architect of the Chagos Islands deal is reportedly on the verge of stepping down as Sir Keir Starmer’s National Security Adviser. Jonathan Powell is said to be considering leaving his Downing Street post before the end of the year in a further significant departure from the Prime Minister’s team. Since last Sunday, Sir Keir has lost Morgan McSweeney, his chief of staff, Sir Chris Wormald, his Cabinet Secretary, and Tim Allan, his communications chief. All three left in the wake of the Mandelson-Epstein revelations. Mr Powell’s deal to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is highly controversial. It led to a political row after it emerged that Britain would pay £35bn over 99 years to lease back Diego Garcia, which hosts a military base. According to The Guardian, Mr Powell rejected an offer to replace Mr McSweeney as chief of staff, saying he did not want to go back to the job he had under Sir Tony Blair. He instead plans to return to a lucrative consultancy he set up in 2011. Mr Powell also helped broker Sir Keir’s closer relationship with China, which culminated in the Prime Minister’s visit last month. However, his position came under scrutiny late last year following the collapse of the trial of two men accused of spying for Beijing.” – Daily Telegraph
Labour activists paid for smear campaign against journalists – The Times
Jonathan Powell rejects overtures to replace McSweeney as Starmer’s chief of staff – The Guardian
Keir Starmer faces another resignation blow as Chagos deal architect ‘considering No10 exit’ – GBNews
Starmer facing calls for inquiry into Labour thinktank’s investigation of journalists – The Guardian
Comment:
If Starmer goes, the Chagos Islands could remain ours – Nigel Farage and Adam Holloway, Daily Telegraph
So much for Starmer’s ‘gentler’ politics – latest Labour scandal could be straight from Kremlin dirty tricks department – The Sun says
Mandelson’s links to Russia dwarf those of Nigel Farage. Is it even remotely possible that Starmer didn’t know? – Stephen Glover, Daily Mail
The state is failing — No 10 needs an overhaul – Ben Judah, The Times
The speech that exposed Starmer’s fatal weakness – Anne McElvoy, The i
Keir Starmer has a unique talent – to alienate absolutely everyone – Nesrine Malik, The Guardian
£500k phone compo for migrants
“More than 70 boat migrants who had mobiles seized when reaching the UK have won payouts totalling £500,000. High Court judges ruled nabbing the phones and data was illegal and in breach of European human rights laws. It is feared 1,300 migrants may apply for compensation and the sum could run to millions. So far £210,800 has been awarded to 32 …
This isn't complicated—it's willpower.
Chagos deal architect ‘considers No 10 exit’ and Starmer under fire over Labour group’s journalist smears
“The architect of the Chagos Islands deal is reportedly on the verge of stepping down as Sir Keir Starmer’s National Security Adviser. Jonathan Powell is said to be considering leaving his Downing Street post before the end of the year in a further significant departure from the Prime Minister’s team. Since last Sunday, Sir Keir has lost Morgan McSweeney, his chief of staff, Sir Chris Wormald, his Cabinet Secretary, and Tim Allan, his communications chief. All three left in the wake of the Mandelson-Epstein revelations. Mr Powell’s deal to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is highly controversial. It led to a political row after it emerged that Britain would pay £35bn over 99 years to lease back Diego Garcia, which hosts a military base. According to The Guardian, Mr Powell rejected an offer to replace Mr McSweeney as chief of staff, saying he did not want to go back to the job he had under Sir Tony Blair. He instead plans to return to a lucrative consultancy he set up in 2011. Mr Powell also helped broker Sir Keir’s closer relationship with China, which culminated in the Prime Minister’s visit last month. However, his position came under scrutiny late last year following the collapse of the trial of two men accused of spying for Beijing.” – Daily Telegraph
Labour activists paid for smear campaign against journalists – The Times
Jonathan Powell rejects overtures to replace McSweeney as Starmer’s chief of staff – The Guardian
Keir Starmer faces another resignation blow as Chagos deal architect ‘considering No10 exit’ – GBNews
Starmer facing calls for inquiry into Labour thinktank’s investigation of journalists – The Guardian
Comment:
If Starmer goes, the Chagos Islands could remain ours – Nigel Farage and Adam Holloway, Daily Telegraph
So much for Starmer’s ‘gentler’ politics – latest Labour scandal could be straight from Kremlin dirty tricks department – The Sun says
Mandelson’s links to Russia dwarf those of Nigel Farage. Is it even remotely possible that Starmer didn’t know? – Stephen Glover, Daily Mail
The state is failing — No 10 needs an overhaul – Ben Judah, The Times
The speech that exposed Starmer’s fatal weakness – Anne McElvoy, The i
Keir Starmer has a unique talent – to alienate absolutely everyone – Nesrine Malik, The Guardian
£500k phone compo for migrants
“More than 70 boat migrants who had mobiles seized when reaching the UK have won payouts totalling £500,000. High Court judges ruled nabbing the phones and data was illegal and in breach of European human rights laws. It is feared 1,300 migrants may apply for compensation and the sum could run to millions. So far £210,800 has been awarded to 32 …
Newslinks for Monday 16th February 2026
This isn't complicated—it's willpower.
Chagos deal architect ‘considers No 10 exit’ and Starmer under fire over Labour group’s journalist smears
“The architect of the Chagos Islands deal is reportedly on the verge of stepping down as Sir Keir Starmer’s National Security Adviser. Jonathan Powell is said to be considering leaving his Downing Street post before the end of the year in a further significant departure from the Prime Minister’s team. Since last Sunday, Sir Keir has lost Morgan McSweeney, his chief of staff, Sir Chris Wormald, his Cabinet Secretary, and Tim Allan, his communications chief. All three left in the wake of the Mandelson-Epstein revelations. Mr Powell’s deal to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is highly controversial. It led to a political row after it emerged that Britain would pay £35bn over 99 years to lease back Diego Garcia, which hosts a military base. According to The Guardian, Mr Powell rejected an offer to replace Mr McSweeney as chief of staff, saying he did not want to go back to the job he had under Sir Tony Blair. He instead plans to return to a lucrative consultancy he set up in 2011. Mr Powell also helped broker Sir Keir’s closer relationship with China, which culminated in the Prime Minister’s visit last month. However, his position came under scrutiny late last year following the collapse of the trial of two men accused of spying for Beijing.” – Daily Telegraph
Labour activists paid for smear campaign against journalists – The Times
Jonathan Powell rejects overtures to replace McSweeney as Starmer’s chief of staff – The Guardian
Keir Starmer faces another resignation blow as Chagos deal architect ‘considering No10 exit’ – GBNews
Starmer facing calls for inquiry into Labour thinktank’s investigation of journalists – The Guardian
Comment:
If Starmer goes, the Chagos Islands could remain ours – Nigel Farage and Adam Holloway, Daily Telegraph
So much for Starmer’s ‘gentler’ politics – latest Labour scandal could be straight from Kremlin dirty tricks department – The Sun says
Mandelson’s links to Russia dwarf those of Nigel Farage. Is it even remotely possible that Starmer didn’t know? – Stephen Glover, Daily Mail
The state is failing — No 10 needs an overhaul – Ben Judah, The Times
The speech that exposed Starmer’s fatal weakness – Anne McElvoy, The i
Keir Starmer has a unique talent – to alienate absolutely everyone – Nesrine Malik, The Guardian
£500k phone compo for migrants
“More than 70 boat migrants who had mobiles seized when reaching the UK have won payouts totalling £500,000. High Court judges ruled nabbing the phones and data was illegal and in breach of European human rights laws. It is feared 1,300 migrants may apply for compensation and the sum could run to millions. So far £210,800 has been awarded to 32 …
