Downing Street has insisted that Keir Starmer will remain Prime Minister “throughout this Parliament and beyond”, despite a furious backlash over Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador.
Mr Starmer has faced questions about his leadership as the controversy over Lord Mandelson’s posting continues to escalate. However, No10 stressed that he is focused on his duties and has no intention of stepping down.
When asked if the Prime Minister was preparing to resign, his official spokesman stated: “He’s very focused on the job. I refer you back to his previous language that he will continue to lead the Government throughout this Parliament and beyond.” The spokesman added: “He’s got a huge amount of work to do. We’re in the middle of a global conflict, the like of which we’ve not seen for years.”
The crisis deepened after it emerged that security officials had recommended blocking Lord Mandelson’s security clearance. The Prime Minister subsequently dismissed Foreign Office chief Sir Olly Robbins for failing to inform him of this advice, which was overruled by officials to expedite the peer’s arrival in Washington ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Sir Olly hit back this week, accusing No10 of pressuring his department to approve the appointment and adopting a “dismissive” attitude towards Lord Mandelson’s vetting. In response, Cabinet Office boss Cat Little told MPs that the Foreign Office had refused to provide access to the vetting documents, supporting the PM’s assertion that proper procedures were followed.
The ongoing controversy threatens to overshadow the Government’s work just two weeks before crucial elections in England, Scotland, and Wales. Next week, the PM’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and Sir Olly’s predecessor at the Foreign Office, Sir Philip Barton, are due to give evidence to MPs.
On Thursday, the Prime Minister accused his political rivals of attempting to exploit the Mandelson affair to destabilise the Government. When asked if he had considered resigning, Mr Starmer told broadcasters: “I think it’s very important to see what’s going on here. Last week, my political opponents were saying that there’s no way a civil servant wouldn’t have told me about the outcome of a developed vetting security exercise. Turns out my political opponents were completely wrong about that.
“Then they said that I was dishonest. It turns out they were completely wrong about that. They are now putting any allegation they can and I will tell you for why – they are opposed politically to what this Government is trying to achieve.”
The PM dismissed speculation about divisions within his Cabinet, following public distancing by several senior ministers from his decision to sack Sir Olly Robbins over the vetting row. He said: “The Cabinet is working really hard on a huge amount of issues and what we’re delivering at the moment. We’re preparing for the King’s Speech and all the further measures that we’re going to need to take the country forward.”
