Starmer faces Commons vote on inquiry into Mandelson vetting scandal next week

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to face a House of Commons vote as early as next week; This could spark an investigation into his handling of the Mandelson review saga. Independent It was said.

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle looks set to give MPs a say in whether the prime minister should be referred to the powerful House of Commons Privileges Committee to investigate whether he misled parliament over the appointment of his disgraced counterpart as US ambassador.

It comes after it was revealed that MPs from both houses of the House, including Labor, had written to the Speaker demanding that the powerful parliamentary committee dealing with serious disciplinary issues investigate the Prime Minister.

Sir Lindsay is expected to make a statement about the letters on Monday; This means Sir Keir could face a vote in the Commons on Tuesday – the same day his former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney will be grilled by MPs over her role in Lord Mandelson’s appointment.

The Prime Minister has repeatedly told MPs that he and his ministers had only learned that the UK Security Review had recommended last Tuesday evening that Lord Mandelson should not be cleared for the role. Independent He raised concerns last September that he had failed to investigate and publish a front-page story about it, leading to allegations of a cover-up.

Some MPs and former MPs have cited precedent during the Partygate inquiry into Boris Johnson, where the Conservatives failed to use their majority to oppose the inquiry and MPs on the committee “put the party second” in finding him guilty.

The issue presents a “serious challenge for Labor MPs” to avoid being forced to obstruct an investigation, according to a former cabinet minister.

A very senior Labor figure warned that the problems with Sir Keir were “no more subtle or simple than with Boris”, but admitted Labor MPs could support the inquiry “if they see it as the only way to remove Keir Starmer from the prime ministership”.

They stated that if Sir Keir “corrects the record at a later stage that will be the end of the matter”.

The Privileges Committee tried to give Mr Johnson the same opportunity but ultimately decided he had lied about the Downing Street lockdown-busting parties scandal, which ultimately led to his resignation as prime minister.

MPs have been reluctant to speak publicly about talks with the Speaker, but Labor, Conservative, SNP and Liberal Democrat MPs have approached him and called for action.

A senior MP said: Independent: “Several letters have gone to the President. We expect a statement on Monday and this will mean a vote in parliament on Tuesday.”

Asked whether the Prime Minister could halt the process by proroguing parliament ahead of Tuesday evening’s local elections, the MP added: “Parliament cannot be adjourned until its business is completed, so this will need to be addressed before that happens.”

someone said Independent They wrote the speaker because “these issues need to be investigated.”

Karl Turner, an independent MP who was sacked by Labor for rebelling against jury trial reforms, said he had written to Sir Lindsay and claimed other Labor MPs had told him they had done the same thing. He said: “Some things [Starmer] “What was said was inconsistent with the evidence given by Olly Robbins.”

Sir Olly, the former Foreign Office chief, was sacked by Sir Keir last week after he claimed the prime minister failed to tell him that the UK Security Review had advised Lord Mandelson that he posed a security risk. But the former tangerine hit back, saying No 10 had taken a “condescending” approach to the review and that he wanted Lord Mandelson to be in Washington “as soon as humanly possible”.

The row raised questions about the appointment process and Sir Keir’s claims that “due process was followed”; Tory leader Kemi Badenoch claimed the Prime Minister misled parliament and failed to set the record straight.

Commenting on a possible vote next week, a senior Conservative said: “The only issue with Starmer is whether the threshold for an inquiry has been reached. It is a high threshold and essentially misleading parliament is preventing parliament from working.”

But former Commons leader Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said he would be surprised if Sir Keir agreed to the inquiry, given what happened to Mr Johnson.

He said: “I’m sure Labor will oppose it. It was a terrible mistake to allow the privileges committee to continue.”

Sir Keir told MPs he believed “the matter has calmed down” following his statement insisting he supported Sir Olly’s claims.

The speaker’s office declined to comment.