Nightmare for Keir Starmer as Lindsay Hoyle confirms vote on sleaze probe | Politics | News
Embattled Keir Starmer could face a petty investigation in Parliament over allegations he lied to MPs about the Peter Mandelson scandal. In a showdown in the House of Commons tomorrow, MPs will vote on whether the Prime Minister should be referred to the Privileges Committee to decide whether he misled the House about his appointment as US ambassador.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle agreed to the tough debate following demands from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and other senior MPs. Sir Keir was accused of misleading MPs by saying “full due process” was followed after it was revealed Lord Mandelson was given the top job in Washington despite security checks failing.
Ms Badenoch said: “The Prime Minister has repeatedly misled the House of Commons.
“Our ambassador in Washington has appointed a friend of a convicted pedophile who is a national security risk to our most sensitive diplomatic position.
“He claimed that all due process was followed for this appointment, but it was not.
“He placed the appointment on the authorities when the blame could only be placed at his own door.”
The committee was responsible for Boris Johnson’s downfall after he was investigated for misleading the House of Commons about the Partygate saga.
Cabinet minister Emma Reynolds accused the Conservative Party of playing “stupid political games” over the issue.
He told Sky News: “Ten days ago Kemi Badenoch and other members of the opposition were saying that the Prime Minister was deliberately misleading Parliament.
“He didn’t do that and that was proven conclusively last week and they accepted that. He didn’t lie to Parliament.”
“So, with 10 days to go before local elections and major elections in Scotland and Wales, I think the opposition are playing stupid political games when we should be talking about the big issues at stake here in the country.”
Downing Street claimed the timing was due to next week’s local elections, which are expected to turn into a bloodbath for the Labor Party.
A spokesman for Number 10 said: “The government is dealing with full transparency on the two parliamentary processes currently taking place regarding the appointment of Peter Mandelson.
“This is a desperate political move by the Conservative Party in the week before the May election because they have no answers on the cost of living or the NHS. Their claims have no basis.”
