Starmer accused of a ‘cover up’ over Mandelson vetting scandal

Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of a “cover-up” after he denied knowing Peter Mandelson had failed the critical security investigation. Independent He had reported his concerns to No 10 seven months ago.

The “furious” prime minister insisted he only learned of the review failure this week, saying it was “surprising” and unacceptable that he was not told sooner.

But Kemi Badenoch said it was “unwise”. Independent He approached Downing Street about the issue after the disgraced colleague was sacked from his post as US ambassador last September.

The Conservative leader said the statement meant it was clear that the prime minister had misled parliament by claiming three times that due process had been followed in his appointment, and once again called for him to resign.

He told a press conference in Westminster: “The Prime Minister now wants us to believe that no one in the government thought to tell him or his team that Mandleson had failed the review, that he heard about it for the first time on Tuesday night. It is preposterous.”

He added: “We know Number 10 was told Mandelson had failed the review because journalists told them so in September last year.

“This leaves us with two possibilities: either the prime minister is lying, or he is so incompetent that he is unfit to lead the country. Either way, his position is untenable.”

Independent She first revealed the story last year and discussed it with Sir Keir’s then communications director, Tim Allan. He responded: “The review was carried out by the FCDO. [Foreign and Commonwealth Office] normally.”

Months later, in February, Sir Keir told the House of Commons there were no problems with the review process, and on Friday he claimed he had not been told of Lord Mandelson’s failure to pass the legislation until this week.

referencing IndependentIn her story in September, Ms Badenoch said: “I saw the picture of the message David Maddox sent to Tim Allan, one of Number 10’s most senior officials.

“This is very telling. These questions were asked in September. I find it hard to believe that the communications director did not tell anyone or even ask anyone before responding. He did not deny the allegations.”

“That’s one of the reasons why I think they know more than they pretend to know. Now, I think it’s very important that we see questions being asked and answers being denied. This is a cover-up one way or another.”

The binding parliamentary vote forcing the government to publish documents relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment must also cover what happened “afterwards”. Independent “He asked these questions,” he said.

He also called for all documents, including the reasons why former Labor leader Mandelson failed to be vetted, to be made public by the end of next week, adding: “I am very concerned that many documents will not be made public at the moment because they will show the extent of this cover-up and how incompetent the operation was that went all the way to the prime minister in Operation No 10.”

A Labor MP said: Independent Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he believed the Prime Minister “will be gone by the summer”, while “Starmer looks likely to be toast”. “Nothing the Prime Minister says is valid,” he said, adding: “He lied to the country and he needs to go.”

The Liberal Democrats also reported Sir Keir to his own ethics adviser for failing to report Lord Mandelson’s botched vetting to parliament as soon as he learned of it.

Sir Keir insisted he did not know before this week and told reporters on Friday: “It is surprising that I was not told that Peter Mandelson had failed his vetting when he was appointed.

“It is inexcusable that I was not told that he had failed his vetting when I told Parliament that due process was followed. Not only was I not told, but no minister was told and I am absolutely furious about that.”

“What I plan to do is go to Parliament on Monday and set out all the relevant facts with real transparency so that Parliament can see the full picture.”

Challenged about IndependentDowning Street said on Friday it “does not accept that the media investigation is equivalent”.

After the investigation, they were asked if they would check IndependentDowning Street said: “No 10 has repeatedly throughout this process asked about the facts surrounding this case, Peter Mandelson was vetted and at no point in the process was No 10, the prime minister said the UK vetting had recommended against him.”

Liberal Democrat cabinet spokeswoman Lisa Smart said: “There is clearly something deeply wrong with No 10 when reports that journalists have failed Mandelson’s scrutiny have not even gotten through the door. Starmer frankly appears to be a lame duck, completely out of control of his own government.”

Ms Badenoch also called on Sir Olly Robbins, the senior Foreign Office official who was sacked for taking the unusual step of overruling security guards who refused Lord Mandelson’s security clearance, to give evidence to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee.

He said: “I think Olly Robbins should come to Parliament and explain exactly what happened. Parliament deserves the truth. The public deserves the truth.”