Sir Keir Starmer's leadership has been thrown into crisis after Labour MPs forced him to reverse his decision to restrict the release of full vetting documents concerning Peter Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US. The prime minister's climbdown came after intense pressure, led by former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, who backed a Tory proposal for the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) to decide which documents could be published.
The controversy erupted after Starmer admitted he knew about Mandelson's continued friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein but appointed him anyway. Despite insisting he was lied to by Mandelson, whom he accused of betraying the country, many Labour MPs questioned his integrity and judgement. Ministers and senior figures gave Starmer an ultimatum to sack his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who pushed for Mandelson's appointment.
During a heated Prime Minister's Questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of catastrophic judgement that harmed the special relationship and endangered national security. She also targeted McSweeney, calling him a protégé of Mandelson. Starmer defended McSweeney as an essential part of his team, but one Labour MP told The Independent that McSweeney must go.
The prime minister initially argued that some details in the vetting documents needed redacting on national security grounds, prompting accusations of a cover-up. After a six-hour Commons debate, Starmer relented when Rayner made clear she would support the Tory proposal for the ISC to oversee publication. The documents could be released as early as Thursday.
Starmer is reportedly planning a reset with a major speech on Thursday to position himself as a champion of decency and respect. However, MPs remain unconvinced by his anger and promises of transparency. The scandal has left his leadership in turmoil, with Badenoch claiming Starmer is no longer in control and that she is calling the shots.
