Evening briefing on Monday 15th September

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0:35This is your Times evening briefing on Monday the 15th of September. I'm Laura Cook. Sir Keir Starmer has spoken for the first time since the dismissal of US Ambassador Peter Mandelson. The Prime Minister says he would never have appointed him had he known the extent of the peers' relationship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. I knew of his association with Epstein. But had I known then what I know now, I'd have never appointed him. Because what emerged last week were emails, Bloomberg emails, which showed that the nature and extent of the relationship that Peter Mandelson had with Epstein was far different to what I had understood to be the position when I appointed him.

1:22Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle has granted an emergency debate tomorrow. The debate will be on the appointment process and the circumstances leading to the dismissal of the former UK ambassador, Lord Mandelson. One of Sikir Starmer's most senior aides, Paul Ovenden, has resigned. It's understood the director of strategy has left the role after a number of comments from an email in 2017 became public. A spokesperson for No. 10 has called them appalling and unacceptable. It adds further pressure to the prime minister. Luke Trill, the UK director of More in Common, has given Times radio an exclusive peek at their latest poll.

1:56His net approval rating has reached minus 46. That is the lowest that we have recorded for Keir Starmer. So it is clear, it seems, that the turmoil of the past couple of weeks, the questions of judgment on Mandelson and the reshuffle and some of the staffing things clearly are trickling through to the public because his approval has fallen even further. Elsewhere, the Conservative MP Danny Kruger has defected to Reform UK, declaring the Tories are over. Nigel Farage says the former Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions will now help to get his party ready for government. Constance Martin and Mark Gordon have been sentenced to 14 years in prison for the gross negligence manslaughter of their daughter.

2:35The pair who were arrested in 2023 lived in a tent during the winter months while on the run from authorities, a decision that ultimately led to the death of their newborn. Judge Leucraft KC called them a picture of arrogance. Neither of you gave much, if any, thought to the care or welfare of your baby. Your focus was on yourselves. Several times during today's court proceedings, Martin was admonished by the judge for passing notes to Gordon. Times Chief News Correspondent David Brown was struck by the behaviour of the pair. As it has been throughout the many, many weeks I've watched this pair in the courts for their original trial and their read-up.

3:11They simply cannot behave. I've attended, I've witnessed thousands of trials probably involving some of the most dangerous and psychotic people in the country and I've never seen misbehaviour like these two. They were simply, they are like arrogant teenagers. The judge today repeatedly warned them that if they did not stop disrupting the proceedings he would have them kicked out of court. The ruler of Qatar has released a statement attacking Israel and saying its leaders are trying to make Gaza uninhabitable. The emir of Qatar's extraordinary attack comes after Hamas negotiation team were targeted by Israeli strikes in Doha last week.

3:52An emergency Arab-Islamic summit is taking place in the city to discuss the response to last week's attack. And you can follow The Times news briefing on Spotify and listen live to Times Radio online. That's your Times evening briefing on Monday the 15th of September.

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