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MPs Vote on Referring Keir Starmer to Privileges Committee Over Mandelson Vetting
British lawmakers are set to vote on a motion to investigate whether Prime Minister Keir Starmer misled Parliament regarding the security vetting process for Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador. The motion, led by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and supported by other opposition parties, follows evidence sessions with key officials.
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The UK House of Commons is set to vote on a motion to refer Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the Privileges Committee over statements he made regarding the vetting process for Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the United States. The motion, tabled by opposition parties, specifies three areas where Starmer is accused of misleading Parliament: whether full due process was followed, whether Mandelson underwent developed vetting, and whether pressure was applied to Foreign Office officials.
According to the motion's text, as reported in sources including the BBC and The Guardian, these statements were made by Starmer in responses to parliamentary questions.
Evidence sessions before the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee have included testimony from Olly Robbins, former permanent secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). " Written evidence from the FCDO, prepared in consultation with security head Ian Collard, indicated that Collard "felt pressure for a rapid outcome" due to "regular contact from No.
10," though Collard did not speak directly to No.
Former FCDO permanent secretary Sir Philip Barton and Starmer's former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney are scheduled to give evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee on the appointment process. Their testimony is set for the same day as the vote, which is expected around 7pm following the sessions and a Downing Street briefing.
The Labour Party has imposed a three-line whip requiring its MPs to vote against the motion, which is anticipated to fail due to the government's majority in the Commons. No major rebellion among Labour backbenchers has been reported in the sources.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is opening the debate and has compared the situation to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's misleading statements on Partygate, which resulted in a 2023 Privileges Committee ruling. " The motion has been signed by leaders from the Liberal Democrats, SNP, DUP, and independent MPs.
