Starmer-Mandelson latest: McSweeney denies pressuring civil servants into approving US ambassador vetting

Cat Little, the most senior official in the Cabinet Office, told MPs on Thursday that details were requested on 15 September.

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At PMQs on Wednesday, Keir Starmer looked more assured than he has for some time – but there is something almost delusional in his upbeat demeanour, says John Rentoul.

Morgan McSweeney has denied claims he pressured civil servants into appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.

Sir Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff, widely regarded as a protege of Lord Mandelson, resigned in February over his part in the peer getting the coveted job.

Ahead of his appearance at the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, the political strategist reportedly told a security forum in Kyiv: “I find it strange reading about a character with the same name as mine sometimes.

“I don’t recognise that character,” he said, as first reported by The Times.

It comes after former Foreign Office chief Sir Olly Robbins said there was an “atmosphere of pressure” and “constant chasing” from within the private office about Lord Mandelson’s vetting.

Downing Street has already denied that civil servants were bullied or cajoled by Mr McSweeney.

In a stark warning to Sir Keir Starmer, the London mayor admitted Labour are having a tough time in the capital with Westminster scandal threatening the party’s foothold in London’s councils.

Describing the Mandelson crisis as “an omnishambles from start to finish”, Sir Sadiq said he was “really frustrated” that the scandal was making it harder to engage voters in the party’s local achievements.

The prime minister’s former chief of staff has denied claims he pressured civil servants into appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.

Morgan McSweeney, who resigned in February over his role in appointing Lord Mandelson, is alleged to have told Sir Philip Barton, then permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, to “just f***ing approve” Mandelson’s appointment.

Speaking at a conference, The Times reports he said: “I find it strange reading about a character with the same name as mine sometimes. I don’t recognise that character.”

He said he resigned because he “took responsibility” for recommending Lord Mandelson for the role of ambassador.

Mr McSweeney will appear in front of the Foreign Affairs Committee next week.

Sir Keir Starmer made the “biggest mistake of his life” by appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to the US, the leader of a prominent group of backbenchers has said.

Jo White, who chairs the Red Wall group of Labour MPs, said the government must “cleanse” itself of the problems that have emerged from the vetting scandal.

Amid reports of a split in his cabinet, the prime minister has accused his opponents of making politically motivated allegations.

Asked if she agreed with calls for Sir Keir to quit, Ms White told GB News: “Obviously I’ve heard these conversations at the side lines.

“I’ve been out and about in my constituency, speaking to local residents, and nobody has said to me they think it’s time for Keir Starmer to go.

“They obviously expressed concerns about exactly what’s happened and the way where we are now.

“But people have said to me, there’s a big job of work to be done, and their focus is on sorting out the cost-of-living crisis, and I met with the Red Wall group with Sir Keir yesterday, and our discussion wasn’t about Peter Mandelson.

“Our focus was on re-building industry and growth in our constituencies.”

She added: “He’s made the biggest mistake of his life.

“He’s admitted that, and I think that the biggest thing he has to do is re-iterate his commitment to clean up our politics, because we can only re-build trust if we cleanse ourselves of the problems.”

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The prime minister could face a parliamentary inquiry over the Lord Peter Mandelson scandal, it has been reported.

The Independent understands Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is urging the Speaker of the Commons to refer Sir Keir Starmer to the privileges committee over concerns he misled MPs over the vetting process.

Any move would be subject to a vote by all MPs.

A former Labour MP has blasted the sacking of Sir Olly Robbins as the “biggest act of political self-harm anyone ever saw” as he joined calls for the prime minister to face the privileges committee over the Mandelson vetting scandal.

Karl Turner, who had the Labour whip removed last month, told Sky News he is “not suggesting the prime minister has deliberately misled parliament” but added “integrity is important”.

He said he doesn’t want the PM to resign, but instead “improve and get a grip of things”.