Kemi Badenoch erupts at Labour as MPs block Keir Starmer sleaze probe | Politics | News

Kemi Badenoch has criticized Labor MPs for their role in the “cover-up” of the Peter Mandelson scandal. The Conservative Party leader hit out after voting against a shoddy inquiry into whether Sir Keir Starmer lied to Parliament about appointing the disgraced Peer as US ambassador.

Writing for the Express, Ms Badenoch said the credibility of the Government and Labor was now “completely gone”. “Labour MPs chose to be part of the cover-up of Peter Mandelson,” he said after Tuesday’s House of Commons vote. “At the behest of Keir Starmer, Labor MPs conspired to reject an investigation into whether the Prime Minister had misled Parliament, even though there was clear evidence that that was exactly what the Prime Minister had done.”

Launching a blistering attack, Ms Badenoch said the “disgusting incident” went well beyond Lord Mandelson’s appointment and insisted the issue was “now about honesty, integrity and accountability”.

He added that Labor “puts party before country”.

MPs voted against the launch of an investigation into whether the Prime Minister misled the Parliament by 335 votes to 223, with a majority of 112.

The Tory leader’s harsh words come after another dramatic day in British politics, with the Prime Minister facing fresh humiliation over the scandal.

Sir Christian Turner, Lord Mandelson’s successor in Washington, reportedly said Sir Keir was “quite clearly on the ropes”, his future looked “quite fragile” and he could be sacked by his party after the May 7 election.

The embarrassing comments, reported by the Financial Times in February, are piling further pressure on the Prime Minister, whose premiership is hanging by a thread.

Sir Keir survived a minor backbench revolt on Tuesday when MPs voted ????X??@@££ against the Privileges Committee investigation into whether he misled Parliament.

In the harrowing encounter in the Commons, MPs branded Sir Keir “out of touch” and warned that blocking the review would “drag every one of us down”.

Ms Badenoch, who led the emergency debate, said the Prime Minister had broken government rules.

He said: “The Ministerial Code is very clear that ministers who mislead the House must correct the record and, and I quote, ‘at the earliest opportunity’.

“It is very clear that what the Prime Minister said in the cargo box was not true. It is clear that due process was not fully followed.”

Labor backbencher Emma Lewell made her feelings clear as she made a devastating takedown of Sir Keir’s handling of the Lord Mandelson scandal.

He told the House of Commons: “I have been watching this sad saga play out for weeks and, like the public, I feel let down, disappointed and angry.

“Peter Mandelson should never have been appointed, this was a fundamental error of judgement.

“I feel that today’s vote by the Government is once again detached and out of touch with the mood of the people.”

Labor MP Nadia Whittome said: “I have listened to the Prime Minister’s arguments and, unfortunately, I am not yet convinced that he certainly did not mislead the House, even if unintentionally.”

Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform Britain, said the Prime Minister “chose to avoid due process” when appointing Lord Mandelson before review.

Sir Keir was also shaken by further evidence from key figures in Lord Mandelson’s appointment.

The former head of the Foreign Office told MPs that Number 10 had applied pressure to obtain the peer’s security clearance.

Sir Philip Barton also suggested the normal process was not followed because the appointment was announced before Lord Mandelson’s review.

Sir Keir has previously told Parliament that “full due process” was followed over Mandelson’s appointment and publicly denied any pressure was placed on the Foreign Office.

In another bombshell hearing at the Foreign Affairs Committee, Sir Keir’s former private secretary Morgan McSweeney claimed responsibility for the disastrous envoy selection.

Mr McSweeney said Sir Keir “trusted my advice and I misunderstood”.

But he also admitted No 10 was aware of the “pros and cons” of appointing Lord Mandelson, who has long-standing ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

A Labor strategist said he regretted asking questions to Lord Mandelson himself when choosing an ambassador rather than leaving it to the Cabinet Office’s etiquette and ethics team.

Mr McSweeney initially suggested that this appointment had been made despite his disbelief of Lord Mandelson’s answers; but later tried to explain that his suspicions were revealed months later.

He also said he believed Lord Mandelson was the best choice because Britain was “at a deficit” on trade after Brexit. Donald Trump In the White House.