Kemi Badenoch demands release of Starmer’s Mandelson vetting process amid Epstein ties

The Conservatives will aim to force the government to reveal all information surrounding Sir Keir Starmer’s appointment of Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the United States.

This comes after new revelations emerged about her ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch demanded Downing Street explain the review process behind the appointment.

He claimed concerns were “put aside” for the Prime Minister to “politically appoint a man who was a close friend of a convicted pedophile”.

A criminal investigation has been launched into misconduct in public office after newly released files by US authorities showed Lord Mandelson passed market-sensitive material to the disgraced financier while serving in Gordon Brown’s Labor administration.

The Conservative Party plans to introduce a modest speech motion on Wednesday, a secret parliamentary mechanism that could be used to force the government to produce documents.

The information to be requested to be published includes due diligence carried out by the Cabinet Office, emails between Lord Mandelson and the Prime Minister’s private secretary Morgan McSweeney regarding his relationship with Epstein, minutes of meetings held about the appointment and details of payments made upon Lord Mandelson’s departure from his Washington post.

Modest speeches, if accepted, would be binding on ministers.

Ms Badenoch said Labor MPs “must do what they know is right” and argued “this is about the reputation of our Parliament and our country”.

“I hope that MPs of all parties, but especially Labor MPs, will join us in our fight for the truth, for full justice for Epstein’s victims and for openness and honesty with the British people.

“If the Prime Minister had a backbone, he would allow MPs to vote with their conscience and put their country before their party.”

There is speculation that some Labor MPs may challenge the government by abstaining amid furor over the Lord Mandelson affair.

Ms Badenoch told broadcasters: “What we will do is use a rare parliamentary mechanism called a humble speech to force the Government to publish all the documents explaining how this review, or the lack of review as we believe, took place.

“I believe normal procedures were waived so that the Prime Minister could appoint a well-known man who had such a close relationship with a convicted pedophile, and he did it anyway.”

Ms Badenoch also took aim at Mr McSweeney, who she said was a “close protégé” of Lord Mandelson; McSweeney’s “fingerprints are all over this national embarrassment” of giving his peer the “plum job” in Washington.

No 10 added a twist to his modest speech, calling for all documents to be published, saying “except for documents prejudicial to the national security or international relations of the United Kingdom” in line with a House of Commons resolution.

On Tuesday evening, the Metropolitan Police said it had launched a criminal investigation into allegations that Lord Mandelson leaked highly sensitive information to Epstein.

Ms Badenoch said it was “right” to launch an investigation but the Prime Minister himself should answer questions about how this happened.

Asked whether police should interview Sir Keir, the Tory leader told Sky News: “The police will make that call. But if there is evidence that he has something to do with the Prime Minister then of course yes.”

A government spokesman said: “The government stands ready to provide whatever support and assistance the police require.”