Keir Starmer faced a high-stakes showdown in the House of Commons on Monday as he sought to contain the fallout from the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal. The prime minister delivered a statement to MPs, detailing how Mandelson became UK ambassador to the United States despite failing security vetting, a decision that was overruled by the Foreign Office without informing Number 10.
Starmer expressed fury that he was kept in the dark, telling the Daily Mirror that it was “unforgivable” he had told Parliament due process was followed when it was not. Downing Street also published a document arguing that no law prevented civil servants from flagging vetting recommendations to ministers, disputing claims by sacked Foreign Office permanent secretary Olly Robbins that he was legally barred from doing so.
Robbins, who was dismissed after the scandal broke, is taking legal advice ahead of his appearance before the foreign affairs select committee on Tuesday. Sources close to him say he feels unfairly treated and is determined to present his side of the story, a move that could inflict further damage on Starmer’s leadership.
Opposition leaders have called for Starmer to resign, accusing him of failing to provide proper oversight. However, senior government figures, including Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, warned against a leadership contest, arguing it would destabilise the government amid global crises. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall insisted Starmer had not gambled with national security by appointing Mandelson.
