Lucy Powell tells The Independent the Gorton and Denton by-election represents ‘a line in the sand’, as MPs fear it has become a referendum on Starmer in the wake of the Mandelson scandal

Prime minister’s own integrity and judgement under scrutiny as he admits he knew of Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with Epstein – but appointed him US ambassador anyway

Starmer’s support for ‘rules that protect those in need’ overshadowed by concerns he knew about Mandelson’s Esptein links