Keir Starmer Likely To Block Tory Sleaze Probe Into Mandelson

Keir Starmer is set to see off a Tory bid to have him investigated by a Commons committee over his handling of the Peter Mandelson scandal.

The prime minister is accused of misleading parliament by claiming that “due process” was followed in the shamed former Labour peer’s appointment as the UK’s ambassador to Washington.

It emerged two weeks ago that UK Security Vetting (UKSV) had in fact recommended Mandelson not be given clearance to take up the role.

He was eventually cleared for so-called “developed vetting” by Sir Olly Robbins, who was the top civil servant in the Foreign Office at the time.

Starmer controversially sacked Robbins for not telling him about the UKSV findings.

In a bombshell committee appearance last week , Robbins said there was “constant pressure” from No.10 for Mandelson’s appointment to be approved – a claim denied by Starmer at prime minister’s questions the following day.

On Tuesday, MPs will debate and vote on an attempt by the Conservatives for Starmer to be referred to parliament’s Privileges Committee over the row.

However, Labour MPs have been told by the party’s whips that they must vote against the move, meaning it is all-but certain to fail, given the party’s huge Commons majority.

A government minister told HuffPost UK: “We needn’t whip heavily. The Parliamentary Labour Party is pretty united on this. It will be a damp squib.”

Starmer told a meeting of the PLP on Monday evening that the vote was “a political stunt” by the Tories just over a week out from the May 7 elections in England, Scotland and Wales.

He said: “Tomorrow is pure politics and we need to stand together against it.”

In a plea for Labour MPs’ support, the PM described the allegations that he misled parliament as “totally baseless” and “absolutely ridiculous”.

“It’s important to see the bigger picture here,” he said. “They want to stop this Labour government. And we know why.

“Because we are the first government for generations to take key parts of the public realm back into public ownership. They don’t like that, but we’re doing it.

“The first government for generations to give rights and power to workers, to renters, to the less fortunate. The first government for generations prepared to stand against wealth interests, to raise money and put that into public services and fighting child poverty. They don’t like it, they said they’d reverse it.

“We have a mandate to do all of those things. And they are not going to stop us.”

He added: “When we stick together and fight together we are so much stronger.”

Meanwhile, the PM’s former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, will on Tuesday give evidence on the Mandelson affair to parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.

Sir Olly Robbins’ predecessor as permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, Sir Philip Barton, will also be quizzed by the committee about Mandelson’s appointment.

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