Downing Street has insisted that Sir Keir Starmer will remain Prime Minister beyond the current Parliament, despite mounting pressure over the Lord Peter Mandelson vetting scandal. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman dismissed suggestions that Sir Keir is planning to announce his departure, stating: “He’s very focused on the job. I refer you back to his previous language that he will continue to lead the Government throughout this Parliament and beyond.”
Mandelson Vetting Scandal
The Labour leader has faced calls to resign after the controversy surrounding the appointment of Lord Mandelson as British ambassador to the US. Cabinet divisions have reportedly emerged over Sir Keir’s handling of the process, including his decision to sack Foreign Office chief Sir Olly Robbins. Sir Keir has said he has been exonerated over accusations he misled MPs, citing evidence from Sir Olly, and has accused opponents of making politically motivated allegations.
Backbench Criticism
Adding to the pressure, Jo White, chair of the Red Wall group of Labour MPs, described the Mandelson appointment as the “biggest mistake of his life” and called for the Government to “cleanse” itself of the problems arising from the vetting scandal. During a visit to Newcastle, Sir Keir was asked whether he had considered resigning. He responded: “Last week, my political opponents were saying that there’s no way a civil servant wouldn’t have told me about the outcome of a developed vetting security exercise. Turns out they were completely wrong. Then they said I was dishonest. It turns out they were completely wrong about that. They are now putting any allegation they can because they are opposed politically to what this Government is trying to achieve.”
Further Testimony
Sir Keir’s former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, denied claims he bullied civil servants into appointing Lord Mandelson. Speaking at a security forum in Kyiv, he said: “I find it strange reading about a character with the same name as mine sometimes. I don’t recognise that character.” Ian Collard, head of the Foreign Office estates, security and network directorate, has also been asked to testify on Tuesday. It was Mr Collard who Sir Olly said briefed him on the vetting findings that deemed Lord Mandelson a borderline case. Committee chair Dame Emily Thornberry has written to the Foreign Secretary to request his appearance, stating: “His evidence would fill gaps in our investigation, and as he and Sir Olly Robbins were potentially the only people in the meeting to discuss Lord Mandelson’s security vetting, we must insist on seeing him personally.”
