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 Conservative motion, which Labour will whip its MPs to oppose, follows revelations that Peter Mandelson was appointed US ambassador despite failing security vetting.
Senior Labour figures including Gordon Brown, Alan Johnson and David Blunkett have called for restraint, dismissing the vote as a political stunt designed to destabilise the party before May elections. Downing Street described the motion as a “desperate political stunt” aimed at inflicting damage before crucial local elections next week.
Starmer also faces potential damaging testimony from his former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who will appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee inquiry into Mandelson’s appointment. McSweeney has taken “full responsibility” for advising the appointment but is expected to face questions about whether due process was followed.
In a further development, a letter from security director Ian Collard revealed he had not seen the document recommending Mandelson’s security clearance be denied, instead receiving an oral briefing describing it as a “borderline case”. Collard admitted feeling pressure for a “rapid outcome” but said it did not affect his judgment.
Downing Street released a letter from former cabinet secretary Chris Wormald concluding that “appropriate processes were followed” during Mandelson’s appointment. The Tories have questioned Starmer’s claim that there was “no pressure whatsoever” on the Foreign Office, after former official Olly Robbins said there had been pressure.
