Sir Keir Starmer is facing a critical day for his premiership as MPs prepare to vote on whether to launch a parliamentary sleaze inquiry into the handling of Lord Mandelson's vetting for the role of US ambassador. The Prime Minister has urged Labour backbenchers to 'stand together' against the motion, which would refer him to the Privileges Committee over allegations that he misled the Commons regarding the appointment process.
Evidence from Senior Figures
Evidence from senior figures, including former top Foreign Office mandarin Sir Philip Barton, about Lord Mandelson's vetting has the potential to pose further challenges for Sir Keir. A committee hearing is scheduled for early Tuesday, where Sir Philip is expected to testify. Meanwhile, a large-scale effort to shore up backbench support was under way on Monday night, with former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown urging the party to back the Prime Minister.
Labour MPs Urged to Reject 'Stunt'
Allies of Sir Keir appeared confident that a mass rebellion was off the cards as he addressed a packed meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP). He told MPs: 'When we stick together and fight together we are so much stronger.' He dismissed the Commons bid to refer him to the committee, which ended Boris Johnson's political career, as a 'stunt' by political opponents intent on inflicting damage before the May elections.
It is understood Labour MPs are being whipped to reject the motion after Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle allowed a vote on the issue following requests from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and other senior MPs. Sir Keir told the PLP: 'I have responsibility for being totally transparent with you, with Parliament and the British public. I take that very seriously as well. But this is not about a lack of transparency. This is a political stunt by our opponents who want to bring us down, obscure our message, stop us getting on with our work. And the timing tells you everything, nine days before local elections.'
Government Publishes Letter from Former Cabinet Secretary
The Government took the unusual step on Monday of publishing a letter from former cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald to the Prime Minister, in which he concluded that 'appropriate processes were followed' in both the appointment and sacking of Lord Mandelson. Sir Keir has also faced questions for insisting to MPs that 'no pressure existed whatsoever in relation to this case' after former top Foreign Office official Sir Olly Robbins said there had been 'constant chasing' from No 10 while checks were taking place.
New Evidence on Pressure from No 10
Former permanent secretary Sir Olly's claims were echoed in written evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee published on Monday evening from another key figure in the security process. According to a letter from the Foreign Office drafted in consultation with Ian Collard, the former head of security in the department, the official said he 'felt pressure to deliver a rapid outcome' to the clearance procedure. This was in light of 'regular contact from No 10 to the FCDO (permanent under-secretary's) office,' the letter said, although Mr Collard did not personally speak to Downing Street colleagues and 'does not assess that this pressure influenced professional judgment that was reached by himself or his team.'
The Prime Minister has been accused of misleading MPs by saying 'full due process' was followed in appointing Lord Mandelson, who was given developed vetting status despite failing security checks. The Foreign Office, under then top civil servant Sir Olly, cleared him despite red flags raised by experts at the UK Security Vetting (UKSV) agency. Mr Collard, who briefed Sir Olly on the vetting findings, also did not see the UKSV file recommending clearance be denied, according to the letter. Instead, he received an oral briefing from officials which led him to believe Lord Mandelson's case was 'borderline' and that 'the risks could be mitigated.'
Conservative Accusations and Labour Unity
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'The Prime Minister misled the House of Commons repeatedly. He appointed a national security risk and friend of a convicted paedophile to be our ambassador in Washington, our most sensitive diplomatic post.' Mr Brown urged Labour to unite in focusing on putting 'the needs of the country first' in a statement on Monday evening. 'Whatever the parliamentary games at Westminster, what the country expects of everyone in Labour is to focus on the priorities of the British people, which is what Keir Starmer is doing and for which he deserves all our support,' he said.
Ongoing Parliamentary Processes
Downing Street has said the Government is already committing to two parliamentary processes – questioning from the Foreign Affairs Committee about Lord Mandelson's vetting and a Commons motion forcing the publication of documents relating to his appointment. Lord Mandelson's ambassadorship ended after nine months last September when he was sacked over the extent of his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. On Tuesday, the Foreign Affairs Committee is also due to hear from Sir Keir's former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, who is widely seen as a protege of Lord Mandelson and resigned in February over his part in the appointment. The committee will also hear from Sir Olly's predecessor, Sir Philip Barton.
Starmer Vows to Continue
Sir Olly, who was sacked by Sir Keir for not disclosing the security concerns to ministers, gave evidence to the cross-party group of MPs last week. He said he was told the security experts who carried out the vetting deemed Lord Mandelson a 'borderline' case and leaned towards recommending that clearance be denied, but the official approved his developed vetting status with mitigations put in place. Downing Street has said the findings from UKSV were more clear-cut, describing Lord Mandelson as of 'high concern' and recommending that he be denied clearance.
Sir Keir said on Monday he had been encouraged by his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer, to carry on despite months of political turbulence and questions over the future of his leadership. 'We've got huge amounts of transparency going on already,' he told The Cathy Newman Show on Sky News. 'And, frankly, as Prime Minister and as a Government, it is really important I focus on what matters to millions of people across the country.' He insisted he would keep going for the full five years in office, adding: 'I will be judged at the next election on the promises I've made, and I intend to deliver on them.'
