Ministers rally around Keir Starmer as leadership questions grow over Mandelson saga – UK politics live | Politics
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Liz Kendall He repeated David Lammy’s claim that the prime minister would stop Peter Mandelson If he had known his peer had failed the vetting, he would have made an appointment.
Speaking to Trevor Phillips on Sky News on Sunday, science and technology he said: Keir Starmer He was an “honest man”.
He “completely denied” that Starmer would do anything to put the UK at risk.
Kendall said: “He’s an honest man and there’s no way he would do that, regardless of the so-called embarrassment. He would think it was wrong and wouldn’t do it.”
He has previously said it was “wrong” for Sir Olly Robbins not to tell Starmer or the foreign secretary that the UK security inquiry had recommended against the appointment and that the issue was a “serious mistake”.
“I think it was wrong initially and then it got wrong later because, as you know Trevor very well, the prime minister and ministers made a number of statements in parliament about this. I think it was a failure and that’s why he lost the confidence of the prime minister and the foreign secretary,” Kendall said.
Cabinet minister to speak to broadcasters
Keir Starmer faces another tough day as prime minister this morning amid questions about the leadership maelstrom sparked by the Peter Mandelson saga, even as his cabinet colleagues rally around him.
Starmer’s science and technology secretary Liz Kendall will speak to the BBC this morning as the fallout from Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador continues.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said on Saturday that Starmer would have prevented Mandelson from taking on the job if he had known he had failed his vetting. He is among a number of ministers who have spoken out in support of the prime minister since reports on Thursday that Mandelson had failed the security checks process.
Last night the Sunday Times reported that the reason Mandelson failed the review was because lobbying firm Global Counsel was his biggest client. It was a company affiliated with the Chinese army.
Starmer has faced renewed calls to resign from his rivals since the latest development was reported, and the pressure is expected to continue as Reform UK finance spokesman Robert Jenrick and Tory shadow minister Alex Burghart speak to the BBC this morning.
We will bring you the latest lines here.
