Mandelson – the biggest political scandal since Profumo?
Fri Feb 06 2026
John Profumo was secretary of state for war when he had an affair with Christine Keeler, which ultimately brought down Conservative prime minister Harold Macmillan in the early 1960s.
Parallels are now being drawn between the Profumo affair, and the crisis Sir Keir Starmer is facing over Peter Mandelson's links to Jeffrey Epstein.
Not just because of the damage to his government but also in how the people at the centre of the scandals behaved as though normal rules did not apply to them.
It's said that history often repeats itself - and it seems politics is no different.
Niall is joined by Vanessa Holburn, author of The Profumo Affair, to discuss the parallels between the two scandals.
Producer: Tom Gillespie and Emily Hulme
Editor: Wendy Parker
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John Profumo was secretary of state for war when he had an affair with Christine Keeler, which ultimately brought down Conservative prime minister Harold Macmillan in the early 1960s. Parallels are now being drawn between the Profumo affair, and the crisis Sir Keir Starmer is facing over Peter Mandelson's links to Jeffrey Epstein. Not just because of the damage to his government but also in how the people at the centre of the scandals behaved as though normal rules did not apply to them. It's said that history often repeats itself - and it seems politics is no different. Niall is joined by Vanessa Holburn, author of The Profumo Affair, to discuss the parallels between the two scandals. Producer: Tom Gillespie and Emily Hulme Editor: Wendy Parker