Sir Keir Starmer's government has been warned that it could face a contempt of Parliament motion if it withholds information regarding Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador. Concerns have been raised by the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) that ministers are redacting more material than was initially agreed for release.
Conservative Threat
The Conservatives plan to table a motion to hold ministers, including the Prime Minister, in contempt of Parliament if the government fails to comply with the “humble address” to publish all relevant documents. Several Labour MPs have indicated they would support a contempt motion, which would trigger an inquiry by the Commons Privileges Committee.
Redaction Powers Dispute
The “humble address” specifically grants only the ISC the power to redact information on national security grounds, not the government. A fresh tranche of papers is expected next week. In a statement, Starmer said: “I should not have appointed Mandelson.”
The row centres on the transparency of the appointment process and the extent of document redactions. The ISC has warned that the government's actions could undermine parliamentary scrutiny. The contempt motion, if passed, would be a significant blow to the government and could lead to further investigations.
