Keir Starmer facing ‘resignation time’ over Peter Mandelson scandal | Politics | News

Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls to resign to avoid being distracted by the government’s “self-inflicted personal crisis” following the latest revelations about the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. The Labor leader’s future may depend on Olly Robbins’s expected appearance before MPs on Tuesday. The former senior Foreign Office official was sacked on Thursday amid allegations his department failed to tell the Prime Minister that Mandelson had failed a security clearance.

Sir Keir will appear before MPs on Monday and detail how he appointed Mandelson, a former close friend of billionaire sex predator Jeffrey Epstein, to the top diplomatic post. The Prime Minister claims “no minister was told” that the veteran of the Blair and Brown governments had failed the vetting process.

One Labor MP told the Sunday Express: “If this is proven wrong then I honestly think we are talking about resignation time.”

The MP said the evidence Mr Robbins gave during his anticipated appearance before the foreign affairs select committee would be “hugely critical to Starmer’s political future”.

Sir Keir will face MPs again on Wednesday for Prime Minister’s Questions but the Conservatives’ Kemi Badenoch and Reform England’s Nigel Farage have doubled down on calls for him to resign and end the saga.

Ms Badenoch told the Sunday Express: “The national scandal over Mandelson’s appointment has been going on for too long and has distracted Keir Starmer and his ministers from the problems facing our country. Starmer is either too incompetent to lead his own government or is lying to Parliament and the public about what he knows. Either of these are a step too far. The British people deserve a Prime Minister who is focused on the serious national challenges we face, not trying to dig a hole of his own making. This is time for Starmer to resign.”

Mr Farage told us: “The Prime Minister must resign this week. Keir Starmer cannot say Peter Mandelson has been vetted and then claim he was not briefed on it. This is misleading Parliament and lying to the public; it is outright, blatant dishonesty. Enough is enough. He needs to go.”

Former Conservative Defense Secretary Dame Penny Mordaunt has warned of the paralysis she believes has struck the Government.

He said: “He cannot increase urgently needed defense investment, reduce energy costs, control spending, cope with rising prosperity, support business or pursue trade policy that will grow the economy. Instead the whole of Whitehall is focused on taking him from one personal crisis of his own making to another.”

Mark Francois, the shadow armed forces secretary, added: “As our beleaguered Prime Minister scrambles to save his own skin, he is completely neglecting his duty to resolve the total impasse between the Ministry of Defense and the Treasury over the defense budget.”

But senior Labor MPs loyal to Sir Keir repelled Tory attacks.

Nick Smith, one of Sir Keir’s early defenders, said: “If the Prime Minister had been told Peter Mandelson had failed the review he would have stopped the appointment. Clearly the Conservatives are weighing in on the issue. That’s what you’d expect.”

“Meanwhile, these are extraordinary times around the world. Our Prime Minister must continue to steer Britain through these turbulent waters. The country needs it.”

Carolyn Harris, deputy leader of the Welsh Labor Party, said: “For all the time I have known Keir Starmer, it has been clear to me that he is a man of utmost integrity, both personally and professionally. I know he will be furious about what is going on here.”

“Naked political opportunists like Kemi Badenoch need to take a long look in the mirror before making further baseless accusations. I know Keir will continue to lead us forward with integrity and serve the country’s national interest.”

In a message to Conservative Party supporters, Ms Badenoch reiterated that it was time for Sir Keir to “go”, saying: “Let’s count how many people Keir Starmer has thrown under the bus over the Mandelson scandal. The security services. The Chief of Staff. The Cabinet Secretary. The Director of Communications. And now the Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Office. Can you guess who hasn’t taken any responsibility? Keir Starmer.”

A Labor source responded: “While Keir Starmer offers serious, calm leadership in the national interest, Kemi Badenoch is simply not up to the job.”

But Shadow Defense Secretary Sir James Cartlidge said: “The UK Ambassador to Washington has a central role in terms of intelligence cooperation, defense co-ordination and the Special Relationship itself. Appointing someone who cannot pass security clearance speaks to a Government willing to bend the rules when it suits it, even when it comes to national security.”