Sir Keir Starmer Avoids Inquiry Over Lord Mandelson US Ambassador Vetting Claims
The House of Commons voted 335 to 223 against a Conservative-led motion that sought to trigger an inquiry into Sir Keir Starmer’s statements on the vetting of Lord Mandelson for the US ambassadorial role. Sir Keir has consistently denied accusations of misleading MPs over whether “full due process” was followed and his assertion that “no pressure whatsoever” was applied to Foreign Office officials.
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader, tabled the motion, aiming to have the Prime Minister’s remarks scrutinised by the Privileges Committee. The Ministerial Code stipulates that ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament are expected to resign.
Despite a concerted effort by Downing Street to ensure party loyalty, some Labour MPs on the left of the party suggested Sir Keir should have referred himself to the Privileges Committee. Emma Lewell, MP for South Shields, stated the government’s handling “smacks, once again, of being out of touch and disconnected from the public mood,” warning it “played into the terrible narrative that there is something to hide.”
The debate followed revelations from Sir Philip Barton, former senior civil servant at the Foreign Office, who informed the Foreign Affairs Committee he was not consulted by Downing Street before the decision was made to send Lord Mandelson to the US. Sir Philip noted he viewed the appointment as a “potentially difficult issue” due to the peer’s known links to Jeffrey Epstein, stating he was “presented with a decision” and “told to get on with it.” Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir’s former chief of staff, also admitted to making “a serious mistake” in recommending Lord Mandelson’s appointment, though he insisted officials were never asked to “skip steps.”
Lord Mandelson’s brief tenure as Washington ambassador, from February to September, ended when new information emerged about the extent of his relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, leading to his removal by Downing Street.
