Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged Labour MPs to “stick together and fight together” ahead of a critical day that could see him referred to parliament’s privileges committee. The move follows a Conservative motion over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, despite Mandelson failing security vetting. Downing Street described the vote as a “desperate political stunt” designed to destabilise the government before local elections.
Labour whips, including Attorney General Richard Hermer and Foreign Office Minister Jenny Chapman, have been contacting MPs to secure support. Senior party figures such as Gordon Brown, Alan Johnson and David Blunkett have called for restraint, dismissing the vote as a political stunt. However, 14 Labour MPs are expected to defy the whip and vote against the government, marking a significant rebellion.
In addition to the vote, Starmer faces testimony from his former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney before the Foreign Affairs Committee. McSweeney, who left government over the Mandelson row, is expected to face questions about whether due process was followed, including whether he pressured the Foreign Office. He will also be asked about the theft of his official phone shortly after Mandelson was sacked over links to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Former Foreign Office permanent secretary Philip Barton will also give evidence, and will be asked whether McSweeney told him to “just fucking approve” the appointment. A letter from security director Ian Collard revealed he had not seen the document recommending denial of security clearance, but received an oral briefing describing it as a “borderline case” manageable through “robust risk management”.
Starmer addressed the parliamentary party, insisting the vote was “pure politics” and not about transparency. Downing Street released a letter from former cabinet secretary Chris Wormald stating that “appropriate processes were followed”. The Tories have questioned Starmer’s claim of “no pressure whatsoever” on the Foreign Office, after former official Olly Robbins said there was. Knowingly misleading parliament is considered a resigning offence for ministers.
