A red box for Donald Trump, and eight weeks to make it. Now I really am outraged by the Mandy files The latest Mandelson files expose a concerning inefficiency within the UK government, exemplified by an eight to ten-week lead time for a replica ministerial red box. This, alongside criticism of Labour backbenchers’ focus on taxation for benefits, points to a broader governmental paralysis and a lack of strategic vision for economic growth. The author suggests Keir Starmer’s leadership is absent, leading to a critical failure to address the nation’s pressing needs for infrastructure, investment, and innovation.

• The latest Mandelson files highlight two key issues: criticism of Labour backbenchers for their focus on taxation, and an eight-to-ten-week lead time for a replica ministerial red box.
• The long lead time for the red box is presented as a symbol of the UK’s slow pace in doing things, contrasting sharply with other nations.
• The author argues that Keir Starmer’s government lacks a clear mission or strategy for economic growth, despite it being their stated priority.
• The article criticizes the government’s perceived absence of meaningful action and direction, likening Starmer to the letter ‘e’ in Georges Perec’s novel ‘A Void’.
• The UK requires significant investment in housing, infrastructure, innovation, and a coherent industrial strategy, but current plans are deemed insufficient.