Senior Labour figures have dismissed Conservative calls for a new investigation into whether Prime Minister Keir Starmer misled Parliament over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, labelling the move a 'political stunt' ahead of a possible Commons vote.
The Conservatives have requested that the cross-party privileges committee examine if Starmer misled MPs when he stated that normal procedures were followed in Mandelson's appointment. This committee previously investigated Boris Johnson over lockdown-breaking parties, concluding he deliberately misled Parliament.
The foreign affairs committee, chaired by Labour MP Emily Thornberry, has already launched an inquiry into the matter. Downing Street asserts that evidence heard so far, including from senior civil servants, confirms Starmer told the truth.
Former cabinet ministers Alan Johnson and David Blunkett released a joint statement condemning the Conservative push as a 'nakedly political stunt with no substance,' deeming any comparison to Johnson 'absurd.' They noted that Johnson's case involved a police investigation disproving his statements, unlike the current situation.
Thornberry questioned the need for a second inquiry while her committee's work continues. 'It may be that at some stage in the future some questions haven't been answered... but I don't see the need for that before that stage apart from potentially people trying to score points in advance of the local elections,' she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
The foreign affairs committee has heard from Olly Robbins, former Foreign Office permanent secretary, and Cat Little from the Cabinet Office. Upcoming witnesses include Philip Barton and Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's ex-chief of staff.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds dismissed the proposed vote as 'silly political games' by the Conservatives, noting that opposition leader Kemi Badenoch had previously accused Starmer of misleading Parliament, a claim refuted by evidence. 'He has not lied to parliament,' Reynolds stated.
The Commons speaker will decide whether to allow a vote on referring the matter to the privileges committee. Labour may whip its MPs to oppose the motion.
