Scottish First Minister Condemns Prime Minister's 'Appalling Judgment' in Diplomatic Appointment Scandal
Scotland's First Minister John Swinney has declared that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer occupies a position of "complete weakness" following the ongoing controversy surrounding the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. This criticism persists despite the resignation of the Prime Minister's chief aide, Morgan McSweeney, who stepped down on Sunday.
Mounting Pressure Over Diplomatic Appointment
Pressure continues to intensify on Sir Keir Starmer concerning the controversial diplomatic posting. Morgan McSweeney announced his departure from the role of chief aide, accepting "full responsibility" for advising the Prime Minister to appoint Lord Mandelson to the prestigious Washington position, from which he was subsequently dismissed last year.
The peer, who recently resigned from the House of Lords, is currently under police investigation. This probe was triggered by allegations that he transmitted sensitive government information to the convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein during the peak of the financial crisis. The investigation originated from documents released by the US Department of Justice as part of the widely publicised Epstein files.
Swinney's Forceful Critique on National Radio
Speaking candidly on BBC Radio Scotland, First Minister Swinney delivered a scathing assessment of the Prime Minister's conduct. "All that's happened in recent days demonstrates an appalling judgment by the Prime Minister in appointing Peter Mandelson as the ambassador to the United States," he stated emphatically.
"Although Morgan McSweeney might have resigned, the person that took the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was the Prime Minister and his position is a demonstration of his complete weakness as Prime Minister in the aftermath of this terrible decision," Swinney added, reinforcing his critique of Starmer's leadership amidst the scandal.
Scottish Government Launches Internal Audit
In response to the revelations about Lord Mandelson and the subsequent police investigation, First Minister Swinney has instructed his top civil servant, the Permanent Secretary, to conduct a comprehensive audit. This review will examine all interactions between the Scottish Government and the former minister, who served under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
The audit will scrutinise dealings during the critical period of the financial crash and throughout Lord Mandelson's tenure as ambassador. "I'm absolutely appalled by what's happened around the appointment of Peter Mandelson," Swinney expressed, highlighting his profound concern.
"I am deeply concerned that when he was exchanging sensitive government information with Jeffrey Epstein at the height of the financial crisis, when people like me and others were trying to save people's livelihoods and to take decisions that were very, very sensitive economically, that that information may have been betrayed to external parties," he elaborated, underscoring the potential security implications.
"So I've asked my leading civil servant, the Permanent Secretary, to satisfy me that we were not put in any jeopardy as a consequence, and I'll get that report in due course," Swinney confirmed, outlining the precautionary measures being implemented.
First Minister Defends Previous Collaboration
Mr Swinney has also addressed his own professional interactions with Lord Mandelson, specifically defending a joint visit to the White House last year. The trip was part of concerted efforts to eliminate whisky tariffs imposed by the US government, a significant economic priority for Scotland.
During this diplomatic mission, the First Minister stayed at the ambassador's official residence in Washington merely days before Lord Mandelson's dismissal from the post. Swinney has justified his decision to collaborate with the ambassador, despite widespread prior knowledge of Mandelson's connections to Epstein, by citing the substantial impact on public finances and economic interests.
