Senior Labour figures have dismissed Conservative demands for a formal parliamentary investigation into whether Prime Minister Keir Starmer misled MPs over the vetting process for Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to the United States.
Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of misleading Parliament “multiple times” and urged Labour MPs to “look into their consciences” and support a Privileges Committee inquiry. However, Labour MP Dame Emily Thornberry, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee already examining the appointment, said there was no “rush” for another probe, suggesting critics were “trying to score points ahead of the local elections.”
Former Labour ministers Lord Blunkett and Alan Johnson also weighed in, branding the Conservative calls a “nakedly political stunt” and a “waste of money.” They argued that comparing Starmer’s case to Boris Johnson’s – which led to a Privileges Committee ruling that Johnson had misled Parliament over lockdown parties – was “absurd.”
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle would need to allow a debate on the matter, with a potential vote as soon as Tuesday. The government holds a majority, so significant Labour rebellion would be needed for the inquiry to proceed.
The row centers on whether proper procedure was followed in Mandelson’s appointment, which was terminated after seven months due to his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer has apologized for the appointment but insists “full due process” was followed, despite former civil servant Sir Olly Robbins telling MPs there was “constant pressure” to approve Mandelson – though he maintained it did not affect his security clearance decision.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds defended the PM, saying “it was categorically proven last week that the PM did not lie to Parliament. The prime minister had said that due process was followed and due process was followed, unfortunately the process was fundamentally flawed.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for a free vote for Labour MPs, while Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick said Starmer “misled Parliament” but argued the issue was not a priority for voters.
The Privileges Committee, which in 2023 found Boris Johnson had misled Parliament, typically investigates breaches of parliamentary rules. Under the Ministerial Code, ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament are expected to resign; inadvertent errors must be corrected promptly.