Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal, with a Cabinet minister admitting it is not certain he will lead Labour into the next election. The Prime Minister faces a hostile House of Commons this afternoon as he attempts to shift blame onto a 'fall guy' after sacking Foreign Office chief Olly Robbins last week.
Robbins, who is reportedly consulting lawyers, insists he did nothing wrong by proceeding with Mandelson's security clearance despite vetting officials advising against it. The Government released internal legal advice suggesting there was no barrier to Robbins flagging the vetting conclusions, in a significant escalation last night. The Foreign Affairs Committee has confirmed Robbins will appear before it tomorrow at 9am.
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander acknowledged doubts about Starmer's future, telling Sky News: 'I expect so, yes… I think he will' lead Labour into the 2029 election, but added 'there are no certainties'. Labour's Scottish leader Anas Sarwar has already declared no confidence in Starmer.
Critics have pointed to a November 2024 email from then-Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to Starmer suggesting a 'plan' to obtain security clearance for the US ambassador nominee. Mandelson's appointment was announced the following month before vetting checks were completed. Mandelson was sacked last year after further details of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein emerged.
Downing Street stressed that external appointments are normally made 'subject to obtaining security clearance'. The PM's spokesman hinted Starmer will admit he inadvertently misled Parliament over Mandelson's vetting, after repeatedly stating 'due process' had been followed.
