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UK MPs Reject Motion to Investigate Starmer Over Mandelson Appointment
Morgan McSweeney, former chief of staff to U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, admitted a serious mistake in recommending Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. Lawmakers will vote on referring Starmer to a standards watchdog for allegedly misleading the House of Commons on the appointment process. The scandal involves Mandelson's links to Jeffrey Epstein and rushed security vetting.
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The UK House of Commons voted on Tuesday to reject an opposition motion calling for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to be investigated by the Privileges Committee over his statements regarding the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States.
The motion, proposed by the Conservative Party, was defeated with 316 votes against and 186 in favor, according to reports from the BBC and other outlets covering the proceedings.
Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's former chief of staff who resigned in February, testified before the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee that he had made a "serious error of judgement" in recommending Mandelson for the role. " The committee is examining the appointment, which was announced in December 2024, before Mandelson's security vetting was fully completed.
Lord Mandelson was removed from the ambassadorship in September 2025 following revelations about his links to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019. Police launched an investigation into Mandelson in February over allegations that he shared sensitive government information with Epstein.
UK Security Vetting had recommended against granting Mandelson security clearance, but Sir Olly Robbins, then a top official at the Foreign Office, personally approved it on 21 April 2026. Robbins told the committee that his office and the foreign secretary's office faced "constant pressure" from No.
10's private office, though he said he did not feel personally pressured in his judgment.
Prime Minister Starmer has maintained that "full due process was followed" in the appointment, as he stated on 10 September 2025. " In a statement on 22 April 2026, Starmer said "no pressure existed whatsoever" in relation to the case. A No.
