Keir Starmer has hit back at his critics over the Peter Mandelson scandal, accusing political rivals of using the controversy to try and derail the Government. The Prime Minister brushed off reports of divisions in Cabinet, insisting the team is united and focused on delivering its agenda.
Speaking to broadcasters on Thursday, Starmer said: '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 they were completely wrong about that. Then they said I was dishonest. It turns out they were completely wrong about that.' He added that opponents are 'putting any allegation they can' because they are opposed to the Government's policies on employment rights, NHS investment and landlord rules.
The crisis continues to overshadow the Government's work just a fortnight before crucial elections in England, Scotland and Wales. Next week, Starmer's ex-chief-of-staff Morgan McSweeney and former Foreign Office chief Sir Philip Barton are due to give evidence on the vetting fiasco.
One minister dismissed claims of a Cabinet split as 'a load of guff'. Alex Norris said: 'If I had a pound for the number of times I saw Cabinet stories in the papers under the previous government, my St George’s pints would be more multiple than there will be in reality. We’re getting on with the job, we’re united.'
Earlier, Cabinet Office chief Cat Little told MPs she took the 'very unusual judgement' of requesting Mandelson's vetting information directly from security officials after former Foreign Office chief Sir Olly Robbins refused to hand it over. Little said she had 'multiple discussions' with Sir Olly and specifically asked to see the summary document, but 'it was made clear to me that that information would not be forthcoming'. She defended a three-week delay in providing the information to Starmer, saying she needed to seek legal advice due to the highly classified nature of the material.
