Keir Starmer vows to lead Labour into next general election after bruising week | Keir Starmer
Keir Starmer has said he will lead Labor at the next general election, as allies in Downing Street rejected claims of any wrongdoing over the appointment and vetting of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
The prime minister’s chief secretary, Darren Jones, told Sky News’ Trevor Phillips on Sunday that “there has been no evidence of any wrongdoing by the prime minister in relation to the appointment of Lord Mandelson”, adding that “the whole situation is regrettable”.
Jones said: “Of course, it turns out that not all of the questions about whether the prime minister lied, whether he misled the house or whether he did any wrongdoing there.”
It has been a harrowing week for the prime minister after the Guardian revealed he appointed Mandelson despite vetting officials recommending he be refused security clearance. His handling of the row has been questioned, including his quick decision to fire State Department chief Olly Robbins.
On Saturday night, Starmer tried to gloss over growing unrest within his party and shut down questions about the future of his leadership in an interview with the Sunday Times. Asked directly if his premiership was over, Starmer told the paper: “No.”
Asked if he could continue, he replied: “Of course. We didn’t wait 14 years to be elected, we didn’t change the Labor Party, we didn’t do everything necessary to win the election and gain the mandate to change, not to deliver.”
Asked if he would lead Labor at the next election, Starmer said: “Yes.”
The Conservatives sought to back the prime minister into a corner by highlighting inconsistencies between Starmer’s earlier claim that there was “no pressure put” on Robbins and the former senior civil servant’s description of an “atmosphere of pressure” and “constant chase” in Downing Street while Mandelson was being vetted during an interview with Mandelson’s foreign affairs committee.
Starmer denied the allegations, saying there was “no pressure whatsoever”. He added: “The pressure is on – ‘Can we get this done quickly?’ – this is not an unusual pressure. “This is the daily pressure of the government.”
Starmer also rejected suggestions that as prime minister he should have been more inquisitive and inquisitive about Mandelson’s permission. “When I was told I had a security clearance, I went back and asked the authorities, ‘Are you telling me the truth?'” Starmer said. should I say? he added.
The Conservatives are also pressing for Starmer to face the House of Commons privileges committee over claims he misled parliament.
The revelation that Starmer appointed Mandelson despite authorities recommending he be refused security clearance was revealed due to a process initiated by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.
Speaking on the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg program on Sunday, shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “We now need the privileges committee to investigate whether Keir Starmer misled parliament, which it appears he did.
“Obviously Keir Starmer should resign because he appointed Mandelson in the first place, which is a horribly wrong decision – a man with links to Russia, China and Jeffrey Epstein.”
But former Tory attorney general Dominic Grieve accused his party of “political games” by calling for a vote on launching a privileges committee inquiry. Grieve said: “Peter Mandelson’s appointment is currently being properly reviewed as part of the humble appeals process and the work and hearings being carried out by the foreign relations committee.
“Given that this appointment is being investigated in these processes and all the evidence has not yet been considered, it is not possible to see how a referral to the privileges committee is useful or is, in fact, ‘due process’.
“It is of great importance to ensure that ministers do not mislead parliament, but this should not be turned into mere political games.”
Harriet Harman, who chairs the privileges committee’s investigation into Boris Johnson, said it would be a “complete duplication” of work already being done by the foreign relations committee.
Questions about Mandelson’s review will continue next week, with Starmer’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney appearing before the foreign relations committee.
