Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has called on the Prime Minister to answer questions in Parliament regarding the vetting of Lord Peter Mandelson. This follows revelations that officials overruled a security recommendation not to clear Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US.
Mr Sarwar said the Mandelson scandal was the “tipping point” that led him to call for Sir Keir Starmer to resign earlier this year. He stated, “These are questions that of course have to be answered by Downing Street – in the Parliament and also in any appropriate parliamentary committees.”
When pressed on whether he believed Sir Keir had misled Parliament, Mr Sarwar said he did not know the “individual ins and outs” of the conversations. He emphasised that the focus should be on the upcoming election in Scotland, not on the Labour Government’s record.
The SNP criticised Mr Sarwar for not reiterating his call for the Prime Minister to quit. Depute leader Keith Brown said Mr Sarwar looked “weak and sleekit” and accused him of dodging scrutiny over his position on Sir Keir Starmer.
