McDonnell claims Streeting leadership run is Mandelson-McSweeney’s revenge on Starmer

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said publicly that Wes Streeting’s bid to topple Keir Starmer – expected any minute – is “revenge”. He’s alleged revenge by Starmer’s former handlers Morgan McSweeney and his mentor and child-rapist fan Peter Mandelson. Both men were sacked or resigned over the scandal of Starmer’s appointment of Mandelson as ambassador to the US. Starmer has tried desperately to distance himself from Mandelson – completely unsuccessfully – and McDonnell says they’re now collecting payback:

Just a thought. Wes Streeting owes his political status to the support he’s received over years from Peter Mandelson & Morgan McSweeney at Labour Together. He wouldn’t make a move against Keir Starmer without Mandelson’s say so. So look on this as Mandelson’s & Morgan’s revenge.

— John McDonnell (@johnmcdonnellMP) May 13, 2026

Straight from one Mandelson-McSweeney puppet to another. That’s a grim prospect for a country desperate for real change and a halt to the march of fascism. It seems many agree:

pic.twitter.com/k5Vdi8wtdx

— just me #corbynwasright (@JCorbynwasright) May 13, 2026

Mandelson has groomed Streeting for years, many think. Certainly enough that Streeting confessed his fear of losing his parliamentary seat to the disgraced Blairite fixer:

Mandelson has been around young Wesley from the early days. Always ready to give him a hand… pic.twitter.com/RmZn2tvkAn

— John Miller (@johndowmiller) May 13, 2026

Starmer clones

But not everyone agreed. Many think it’s a con – an attempt by the pair to convey an appearance of change while maintaining the same God-awful status quo – continuity kid-starver and genocide-enabler:

No, it’s nothing to do with “revenge”.
.
This is a semi-orderly transfer of a facade, without any meaningful change of control, power, or policy.
.
The government will continue to support genocide abroad,
crush freedom at home,
& increase the cost of living to cut non-dom taxes. pic.twitter.com/bkyq8MqEA4

— Frank O’Callaghan (@ionank) May 13, 2026

Maintenance of the ‘Epstein class’, in other words:

It’s not revenge John. It’s a con. They want it to look like there’s distance between Starmer and Streeting when in fact it will be more of the same Labour Together project. Simon’s supporting Streeting, Reed ‘behind’ Starmer. It stinks.

— The Daily Politik (@DailyPolitik) May 13, 2026

The Epstein links were a recurring theme:

Miles off John
Syarmer and streeting both part of the epstein regime.
Its just a passing of the baton

— Dulcet panacea (@dulcet_Panacea) May 13, 2026

Riding two horses

Others pointed out, accurately, how the ‘Labour Together’ saboteur squad is supporting both sides in the ‘contest’:

It’s not revenge John. It’s a con. They want it to look like there’s distance between Starmer and Streeting when in fact it will be more of the same Labour Together project. Simon’s supporting Streeting, Reed ‘behind’ Starmer. It stinks.

— The Daily Politik (@DailyPolitik) May 13, 2026

And some think it’s Israel’s revenge – though you could be excused for thinking that’s a fake distinction:

It’s Israel’s revenge for not directly attacking Iran.

— bawbagstauner (@bawbagstauner) May 13, 2026

Certainly Israel and its lobby – and private healthcare – have just as big a piece of Streeting as they do of Starmer, as Green leader Zack Polanski has previously pointed out:

Streeting appears to have rushed his launch in order to prevent Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham getting into the contest. Certainly Burnham is no panacea, but Streeting and his supporters rightly recognise he’d have no chance against Burnham.

Whether McDonnell is right or wrong, Streeting in Number 10 would be just as appalling news for the many as Starmer has been. Has-been… – that seems very appropriate. If only both of them were ‘never-was’s.

Featured image via the Canary