Starmer’s support starts to crack: Sacked civil servant plunges knife into reeling PM as Labour MPs call on Cabinet to act – with Miliband and Cooper the first to show dissent

Cracks are emerging in Keir Starmer’s cabinet as he comes under increasing pressure over the Peter Mandelson affair.

At an extraordinary parliamentary hearing on Tuesday, a mandarin dismissed by the Prime Minister revealed the ‘atmosphere of pressure’ created by No10 to confirm New Labor’s ambassador as ambassador to the US and its ‘condescending approach’ to vetting.

The scandal took another turn when Sir Olly Robbins revealed Downing Street was secretly trying to give Sir Keir’s spin doctor a new diplomatic job.

In a harsh criticism of the Prime Minister’s decision, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband openly admitted that he was against giving Mandelson the prestigious Washington DC post long before it was known that he had failed the security clearance test.

Asked what he thought of the appointment at the time, Mr Miliband told Sky News: ‘It could blow up, it could go wrong. I spoke to David Lammy about this before the appointment and told him I was worried about it. I think he was worried about that too.”

The Energy Secretary also admitted that he ‘well stayed away’ from Mandelson when he was Labor leader.

In another blow to the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told the House of Commons that she was ‘extremely concerned’ by revelations that No 10 had tried to give Sir Keir’s then communications director Matthew Doyle an ambassadorial post and keep it secret from the minister in charge of the department.

Ms Cooper said: ‘Of course, I am extremely concerned about any suggestion that the permanent secretary or permanent under-secretary of the Foreign Office would be told not to inform the Secretary of State. I can also confirm that the case he puts forward… is not a suitable appointment.’

On Tuesday, it was reported that those in the Government were discussing the situation privately and were ‘looking for Cabinet ministers to take the lead’ in showing Sir Keir the door. A source told news website Politico: ‘Cabinet ministers will now be judged by their words and actions in the future.’

Sir Olly Robbins appeared before the Houses of Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee. At an extraordinary parliamentary hearing on Tuesday, Sir Olly revealed the ‘atmosphere of pressure’ created by Number 10 to Mandelson

A senior Labor MP told HuffPost UK that Sir Olly’s evidence was ‘hugely devastating’ and predicted support would now shift to Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told a House of Commons debate on Tuesday: ‘The Prime Minister has personally decided to appoint a known serious national security risk to our most sensitive diplomatic post.

‘Peter Mandelson wasn’t just a man twice thrown out of government for lying, he wasn’t just a man who had a public relationship with a convicted pedophile.

‘But he is a man with connections to the Kremlin and China. The connections are so close that they were raised as a red flag to the Prime Minister before he was appointed.

‘This Prime Minister has put the country’s national security at risk and must take responsibility. “It’s time for him to go.” Ms Badenoch added: ‘I cannot understand how the Prime Minister can claim that he has not misled the House on this point.’

Nigel Farage said Sir Keir was ‘fatally weakened’ by the latest revelations and predicted he would be sacked following next month’s ‘devastating’ local election results.

The Reform UK leader told the Daily Mail he did not believe the Prime Minister’s statement, saying none of it explained the decision to appoint Mandelson in the face of warnings about his character.

“He is terminally emaciated… it is just a matter of time,” Mr Farage said.

In a further blow to the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper (pictured in Japan yesterday) told the House of Commons she was ‘extremely concerned’ about the No 10 private office being exposed.

Energy Minister Ed Miliband (pictured) slammed the Prime Minister’s decision, openly admitting his opposition to Mandelson being given the prestigious post in Washington DC.

Five days after Mandelson was sacked for failing to disclose security checks, Sir Olly appeared before the foreign affairs committee in a hastily convened hearing on Tuesday.

He told MPs there was a ‘very, very strong expectation’ from No 10 that Mandelson ‘should be in office and in America as quickly as humanly possible’.

And Downing Street’s ‘has this been delivered yet?’ He talked about ‘the atmosphere of a constant chase’. and ‘a pretty obvious feeling’ ‘get the job done’.

The committee’s chair, Labor MP Dame Emily Thornberry, said she thought Sir Olly had been ‘bullied’ by No 10 into endorsing Mandelson.

He told the News Agencies podcast that he thought Sir Keir ‘should remain Prime Minister’ but admitted: ‘I think that’s an issue. This is a very destabilizing situation. ‘It’s very worrying that this has happened.’

He was among many Labor MPs who accused Sir Keir’s former right-hand man Morgan McSweeney of pushing for Mandelson’s appointment and the diplomatic job offered to Lord Doyle.

The then Downing Street chief of staff allegedly told Sir Olly’s predecessor at the Foreign Office: ‘I approve of that’, referring to Mandelson’s appointment.

Mr Miliband said Sir Keir should not lose his job, saying: ‘I think Prime Ministers have made mistakes. Prime Ministers can be wrong. Prime Ministers are people.’

Labor Grandmother Dame Emily Thornberry, chair of the committee, said she thought Sir Olly had been ‘bullied’ by No 10 into confirming Mandelson.

Peter Mandelson on a dog walk on Tuesday. Mandelson was dismissed as US ambassador in September 2025 following new revelations about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

In an urgent House of Commons debate called by the Conservative Party, Labor supporters spoke out against what they said was a toxic culture in Downing Street – but blamed it on Mr Mandelson, as well as Mr McSweeney and his think tank Labor Together.

Imran Hussain said: ‘There needs to be a full, transparent and independent investigation into this entire situation, which reveals the truth and leads to consequences, including for the Prime Minister.’

Responding on behalf of the government, the Prime Minister’s Chief Secretary Darren Jones said Sir Keir ‘knew he should not have appointed’ Mandelson.

‘He regrets the decision and apologizes for it,’ he added, insisting the Prime Minister had not misled the House of Commons.