Starmer sees off Tory calls for inquiry into Mandelson role after No 10 flexes muscle
Summary
Keir Starmer, the UK Labour leader, stopped a vote that would have sent him to a standards committee over Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador. The government won the vote with support from some Labour members, while opposition parties united to push for an inquiry into the role and security vetting issues.Key Facts
- The vote was about whether the privileges committee should investigate if the prime minister misled Parliament about Mandelson’s appointment.
- Mandelson was appointed before his security clearance was fully completed, which broke advice given in November.
- Some government officials, including Olly Robbins, overturned a recommendation to deny Mandelson security clearance.
- The vote was led by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and supported by opposition parties like the Liberal Democrats, SNP, and Reform.
- Labour leader Keir Starmer instructed his MPs to oppose the inquiry vote, which passed 335 to 223.
- Some Labour MPs criticized Starmer for putting them in a difficult position seen as covering up.
- The Liberal Democrat leader compared Starmer’s defense to Boris Johnson’s in a past inquiry.
- The government said accusations of dishonesty against the prime minister were disproved by an official’s testimony.
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