Sir Keir Starmer is facing MPs in a showdown in the Commons as he sets out further details over the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson to the role of US ambassador
The MP accepted on Monday he inadvertently misled parliament over the appointment of Lord Mandelson.
He has repeatedly told MPs due process was followed when vetting Lord Mandelson. But speaking at a briefing on Monday morning, Downing Street has said parliament should have been told the process led to a recommendation Lord Mandelson should not be appointed.
However, No 10 has insisted Sir Keir was never aware the peer failed his security checks.
It comes after revelations the prime minister was advised to wait for security vetting to take place before appointing Lord Mandelson. The Labour peer was announced as choice for the Washington role in December, with vetting taking place after that.
Sir Keir has been facing growing calls to resign, and has been accused of throwing the most senior civil servant in the Foreign Office, Sir Olly Robbins, “under the bus” in an attempt to shore up his government last week.
Key Points
- Starmer: I should not have appointed Mandelson
- Starmer accepts he inadvertently misled MPs over Mandelson vetting, No 10 hints
- Starmer faces 'one of the worst crises in relations between ministers and mandarins'
- Documents show Starmer was advised Mandelson should be vetted before appointment
- Analysis: Starmer will survive the Mandelson vetting scandal - but not for long
- All the unanswered questions over the Mandelson vetting scandal as Starmer faces grilling from MPs
Starmer: I should not have appointed Mandelson
15:39 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
Sir Keir Starmer has once again apologised to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein over his decision to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
Beginning his statement to the Commons, Sir Keir said: "While this statement will focus on the process surrounding Peter Mandelson’s vetting and appointment at the heart of this there his also a judgement I made that is wrong. I should not have appointed Peter Mandelson.
"I take responsibility for that decision and I apologise again to the victims of the pedophile Jeffrey Epstein who were clearly failed by my decision.”
Speaker warns MPs they are not allowed to accuse the PM of lying
15:38 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Independent’s Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
The Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has kicked off Sir Keir Starmer’s statement on Peter Mandelson by warning MPs that they are not allowed to accuse the prime minister of lying.
He reminded them of a long-standing convention in the House of Commons, as set out in its rule book Erskine May.
“This rule is in place to ensure the members focus on the substantive matters of the discussion,” he warned them.
Sir Keir Starmer takes to Commons floor
15:36 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer is now addressing MPs in the Commons.
We will be bringing you all the latest in this blog.
Watch live as PM answers questions in the Commons
15:25 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer will answer questions from MPs over Lord Peter Mandelson’s failed vetting at 3:30pm.
You can watch live below:
PM leaves Downing Street to face Commons grilling
15:20 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe prime minister has left Downing Street to head to the House of Commons, where he will face questions from MPs on Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment.
He is expected to appear in the Commons at around 3:30pm.
Labour MPs call for Starmer to resign ahead of Parliamentary address
15:15 , Nicole Wootton-CanePolitical reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
The prime minister is once again fighting for his political life after fresh revelations about Lord Peter Mandelson's vetting failures came to light last week.
The scandal has fuelled calls for Sir Keir to step down, both from opposition parties but also from his critics within the Labour movement.
“In my opinion PM should make decisions not advisors,” Labour backbencher Kim Johnson told The Independent, adding he should “fess up or move out”.
Last week, veteran Labour MP Jon Trickett said “it simply doesn’t sound credible for Keir Starmer to claim that he was unaware that Mandelson had been denied security clearance.”
He added: “Either way, the excuses coming from Downing Street won’t cut it on the doorstep in the run-up to the local elections.”
Analysis: This is what should have happened in Mandelson’s security vetting
15:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer will face MPs this afternoon to answer questions over why Lord Peter Mandelson was appointed as US ambassador, despite failing his security vetting.
The Labour peer would have been subject to developed vetting, a process designed to insulate the UK against employing people in sensitive jobs who are vulnerable to blackmail or bribery, writes The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley.
You can read more about the process in Sam’s analysis below:
This is what should have happened in Mandelson’s security vetting
Ex-parliamentary employee arrested, Commons speaker says
14:51 , Nicole Wootton-CaneA former parliamentary employee was arrested last week under the Computer Misuse Act 1990, Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has said in a brief statement to parliament.
Sir Lindsay said: “I want to make a brief statement about a security matter.
“I've been informed by the police that a former parliamentary employee was arrested last week under the Computer Misuse Act 1990. The police investigation is ongoing.
"As you know, we do not discuss the details of such issues on the floor of the House. This is an ongoing criminal investigation.
"I do not intend to take any points of order on this matter. I will update the members when I'm in a position to share more information."
Mandelson pictured walking in London as row over his appointment erupts
14:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneLord Peter Mandelson has been pictured walking his dog in London this afternoon as pressure around the prime minister over the peer’s appointment reaches boiling point.
As a reminder, Lord Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party and stepped down from the House of Lords in early February 2026.
David Maddox: I knew that Mandelson failed security vetting. So why didn’t Keir Starmer?
14:30 , Nicole Wootton-CanePolitical editor David Maddox looks back on The Independent’s exclusive in September last year and how he informed Downing Street of Mandelson’s vetting failure seven months before the prime minister claims he knew.
I knew that Mandelson failed security vetting. So why didn’t Keir Starmer?
What can we expect from the PM's appearance this afternoon?
14:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer is set to face MPs in the Commons this afternoon as he fights to explain why Lord Peter Mandelson was appointed despite failing his security vetting.
The prime minister is likely to hear calls to resign from opposition leader Kemi Badenoch, as well as questions over how much he knew.
No 10 has insisted Sir Keir was never told about Lord Mandelson’s failed vetting. But even if MPs accept this, questions may be raised about whether he should have known more than he did.
No 10 ‘repeatedly’ asked Foreign Office questions on Mandelson vetting
14:04 , Nicole Wootton-CanePolitical reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
Downing Street has doubled down on blaming Foreign Office officials for the latest revelations around Peter Mandelson’s vetting.
No 10 has said it the Foreign Office was asked “repeatedly” about details of Mandelson’s security clearance to be appointed US ambassador.
They said at no point was the fact UK Security Vetting recommended against his appointment ever shared with Downing Street officials or ministers.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “No 10, Cabinet Secretary, the Cabinet Office repeatedly asked questions about the facts around this case.”
Last week, it was revealed that The Independent had in fact put claims Lord Mandelson had failed vetting to No 10 seven months ago.
Asked whether questions were asked about this story in particular, the spokesperson said: “Questions around security vetting, questions around the process were asked repeatedly."
Watch: MP insists 'Mandelson wouldn't have been appointed if we knew he failed vetting' when shown David Maddox's text to Foreign Office
13:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneStarmer accepts he inadvertently misled MPs over Mandelson vetting, No 10 hints
13:32 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDowning Street has hinted that the prime minister accepts he unknowingly misled MPs by not telling them that Lord Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting.
Sir Keir Starmer has repeatedly told MPs that due process was followed when Lord Mandelson was appointed. New information has come to light that suggests this was not the case - but No 10 insists Sir Keir did not know this, which is not regarded as a resignation offence.
Asked whether the prime minister misled parliament, his spokesperson said:
“The prime minister would never knowingly mislead parliament or the public. He’s clear, though, that this information should have been provided to parliament. It should have been provided to him, it should have been provided to other government ministers.
“But he clearly did not have this information – that is the crucial fact – he clearly did not have this information when he previously spoke to parliament.”
Why did Lord Mandelson fail his vetting for US ambassador role?
13:19 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSir Keir Starmer faces a showdown in the Commons on Monday afternoon after it was revealed last week that Peter Mandelson failed crucial security vetting for his appointment as US ambassador, but was given the role anyway after Foreign Office intervention.
The prime minister had already announced that Lord Mandelson would be sent to Washington when he was denied critical clearance, but the Foreign Office took the rare step of overruling the recommendation, the government has admitted.
The prime minister has been accused of misleading parliament over the appointment, prompting calls for him to resign.
But why did Lord Mandelson fail his security vetting? Albert Toth has this report:
Why did Lord Mandelson fail his vetting for US ambassador role?
No 10 does not admit it was a mistake to appoint Mandelson ahead of vetting
13:00 , Holly EvansPolitical reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
One of the key questions raised about the ill-considered appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador is why the decision was announced ahead of the vetting process.
A document published in the first tranche of files related to his appointment appear to show a letter from then-cabinet secretary Lord Simon Case, advising Lord Mandelson should undergo security vetting before he was appointed.
Asked whether the prime minister considers his failure to take the advice a mistake, his official spokesperson said: “As you've heard since the since this case….we've changed the process by which appointments can be made ahead of vetting.”
Pressed on why the prime minister had not decided to vet Lord Mandelson before announcing his appointment, they said: “As is normally the case with external appointments to the FCDO and the wider civil service, the appointment is made subject to obtaining security clearance.”
No10 repeatedly refuses to say if Starmer inadvertently misled parliament
12:51 , Holly EvansDowning Street has repeatedly refused to say whether Sir Keir Starmer will correct the record after telling Parliament the proper process had been followed in making Lord Peter Mandelson ambassador to the US.
Asked whether the Prime Minister accepted he had misled Parliament, his official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister would never knowingly mislead Parliament or the public.
“He’s clear though, that this information should have been provided to Parliament, should have been provided to him… so he will obviously update the House with the full information.”
Asked whether he would correct the record, the spokesman said he would be “updating Parliament with information” that he should have had previously.
Pressed on whether this meant he was effectively admitting he did inadvertently mislead Parliament, the official said Sir Keir would be “updating Parliament with the full facts of this case.”
Farage says he would vote with Tories to oust Starmer
12:45 , Holly EvansNigel Farage has said he would vote with the Tories if they held a vote of no confidence to remove Sir Keir Starmer.
Both he and Kemi Badenoch have called on the prime minister to resign over the ongoing Mandelson vetting scandal.
He said: “If there’s a motion of no confidence put down, yes we would support it.
“But it’s not going to pass, the Labour backbenchers are not yet of a mood to get rid of their Prime Minister. Although, after May 7, they just might be.”
Sir Olly Robbins to appear before MPs on Tuesday
12:22 , Holly EvansSir Olly Robbins will appear before MPs on Tuesday to answer questions following the row over Lord Peter Mandelson’s vetting for his appointment as US ambassador, the Foreign Affairs Committee has confirmed.
Sir Keir effectively fired the Foreign Office’s top official last week after it emerged Lord Mandelson had been given developed vetting (DV) status despite failing checks carried out by the agency responsible for assessing security clearances.
Watch: Kemi Badenoch says Lord Mandelson vetting row 'issue of national security'
12:16 , Holly EvansIndependent story means Starmer can’t say the ‘warning lights weren't flashing’ on Mandelson, says Farage
12:07 , Kate DevlinAt a press conference in Westminster, the Reform UK leader said: “Last September, David Maddox from the Independent came out very strongly to say he'd been told from sources that Mandelson had failed vetting.
“So it's impossible for the Prime Minister to say the warning lights weren't flashing.”
He added: “And if you were prime minister and there were news reports last September that your ambassadorial choice had failed vetting, you would have thought perhaps you might have had some curiosity to try to find out whether this has really happened or not.”
Documents show Starmer was advised Mandelson should be vetted before appointment
12:04 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer was advised by the then-cabinet secretary that a political appointee such as Lord Peter Mandelson should undergo security vetting before he was appointed.
Papers published by the government to secure the release of the documents show a letter from Lord Simon Case setting out the process of the US ambassador appointment.
The former civil servant sent a note to the prime minister on 11 November 2024, reading: "You should give us the name of the person you would like to appoint and we will develop a plan for them to acquire the necessary security clearances and do due diligence on any potential Conflicts of Interest or other issues of which you should be aware before confirming your choice."
The Labour peer was announced as the choice for the Washington role on 20 December and vetting took place after that.
It has since emerged he failed vetting but Sir Keir was not informed, with Mandelson granted security clearance by a top civil servant in the Foreign Office.
UK government ‘asleep at the wheel’ over Mandelson, says Swinney
11:48 , Holly EvansThe UK government is “asleep at the wheel”, First Minister John Swinney has said, as the prime minister faces increasing pressure over his hiring of Peter Mandelson.
Sir Keir Starmer will address MPs on Monday following revelations that Lord Mandelson did not pass vetting before he was appointed as US ambassador, something he claims he was not told.
Campaigning in Shetland on Monday, Mr Swinney said the UK government had been distracted by the scandal when the focus should be on helping people with the cost of living.
He said: “The cost of-living-crisis is hurting people right across the country – and when people in Scotland look to their governments for help, the UK Government is asleep at the wheel.
“With people paying through the nose at the petrol pumps and on their energy bills, Keir Starmer and the UK Labour government are so weak and so distracted by the Mandelson scandal that they are doing nothing.”
Yvette Cooper returns from diplomatic tour amid Mandelson crisis
11:27 , Holly EvansForeign secretary Yvette Cooper will cut short an intensive diplomatic tour focused on a ceasefire in the Iran war as her department becomes the centre of the latest Mandelson crisis.
It emerged last week the government that foreign office officials had overruled a recommendation that the Labour peer should not be given the role of US ambassador.
That revelation led to new calls from political opponents for prime minister Keir Starmer to resign. Starmer says he was not told of the initial vetting recommendation and is due to speak to parliament on the matter later on Monday.
Against that backdrop, Cooper will return to London early from the Japan leg of her trip after meetings on Monday, cancelling a scheduled speech in Tokyo on Tuesday and skipping a planned return to the Gulf.
The foreign office did not give a reason for the change to her itinerary.
Cooper has been on the road since last week, meeting allies in Paris, Antalya, Dubai and Tokyo.
The top official in her department, Olly Robbins, was sacked last week after Starmer and Cooper lost confidence in him over what Downing Street said was his decision to overturn the vetting recommendation that Mandelson should not be cleared.
Robbins is expected to appear before a parliamentary committee on Tuesday. That comes after allies spoke out publicly to say he had been treated harshly by ministers.
Analysis: Starmer will survive the Mandelson vetting scandal - but not for long
11:08 , Holly EvansWhen Sir Keir Starmer gets to his feet on Monday to explain the latest debacle in his premiership, many will be wondering how many more political lives he has left before he finally has to stand down.
The more pertinent question may be how many more lives (and careers) of his subordinates will be sacrificed as part of what looks like Sir Keir’s increasingly inevitable demise.
So far, during his nearly two-year premiership, he has lost two chiefs of staff, two cabinet secretaries, four directors of communications, several ministers – and even more advisers – as he fights to stay in Downing Street.
Read the full analysis from our political editor David Maddox here:
All the unanswered questions over the Mandelson vetting scandal as Starmer faces grilling from MPs
10:45 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer is facing “judgement day” as he prepares to face a grilling in the Commons over the latest revelations in the Peter Mandelson scandal.
The prime minister is set to update MPs after it was discovered that Mandelson was appointed US ambassador despite security services recommending against granting him security clearance.
Downing Street has blamed officials at the Foreign Office for not alerting the prime minister about the matter, and instead choosing to overrule the recommendation and grant Mandelson developed vetting status.
But critics have accused No 10 of a “cover up”, after it was revealed The Independent had put claims the former Labour peer had failed vetting to Downing Street seven months ago.
As Sir Keir gears up to address MPs, our political correspondent Athena Stavrou takes a look at some of the unanswered questions he will be facing:
All the unanswered questions over the Mandelson vetting scandal
Sir Olly Robbins 'heartbroken' after being sacked from top civil servant job
10:28 , Holly EvansA friend of Sir Olly Robbins has said the former Foreign Office chief is “heartbroken” over his dismissal.
Sir Olly was sacked as a top civil servant last week after failing to inform Sir Keir Starmer that Lord Mandelson had failed his security vetting.
Tom Fletcher, who serves as the United Nations’ humanitarian chief, said he had known Sir Olly for “a long time” and had previously worked with him at the Foreign Office.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “This is a guy who has public service and integrity stitched into his DNA in a way I haven’t seen in any other single individual, and I’ve worked with so many people inside government.
“So he has had an utterly rough few days. And he’s a pretty strong kind of character but I think he’s heartbroken.”
Starmer to blame Foreign Office officials over Mandelson vetting
10:16 , Holly EvansThe prime minister’s defence in the Commons today will be to blame officials for not telling him or the then foreign secretary David Lammy that UK Security Vetting (UKSV) had not cleared Lord Mandelson.
A statement issued by No 10 on Sunday night said that although civil servants rather than ministers make decisions on vetting and clearance, there was nothing in the law to prevent ministers being told.
“There is nothing in the guidance which prevented information being shared in this scenario, in a proportionate and necessary way and subject to the appropriate procedural steps,” the statement on the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act said.
While there are “legal obligations” under data protection rules, “no law prevents civil servants – while continuing to protect such sensitive personal information – from sensibly flagging UK Security Vetting recommendations or high level risks and mitigations”.
UKSV’s privacy notice sets out there are “limited circumstances in which relevant vetting information can be shared” if “a security risk has been identified”.
Mr Alexander also suggested that Foreign Office officials would have made a decision to allow Lord Mandelson access to top secret “strap three” material, as reported by The Times.
“When strap clearance is given to someone, the process goes through the department that is sponsoring the application,” he told Times Radio.
Cabinet minister says he can't give 'definitive' timeline for release of Mandelson files
09:55 , Holly EvansA senior cabinet minister has said he cannot give a “definitive” timeline for the release of the remaining Mandelson files.
In February, parliament voted to compel the government to release all documents relation to the Labour peer’s appointment as US ambassador, despite his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
On Mornings With Ridge And Frost on Sky News, lead presenter Sophy Ridge asked Douglas Alexander when the rest of the files will be released.
He responded that they will come "as quickly as possible".
Pushed for a timeline, he said: "I can't give you a definitive answer."
He stressed that due to the ongoing police investigation into Lord Mandelson, the government needed to be "appropriately careful with what documents can be shared".
"Although the intention, of course, is to adhere to the will of parliament," he said.
"The intention on the part of government, as was clear by some of the documents that have emerged in the last few days, is to proceed at peace with disclosing these documents."
If the PM is to survive his Commons grilling today, here’s what he has to do
09:41 , Holly EvansAs Keir Starmer faces MPs over Peter Mandelson’s failed security vetting, his inner circle will be preparing him for his make-or-break moment – an, in my experience of such high-pressure Commons moments, it’s all about the little things, says former Downing Street special adviser Cleo Watson.
Read the full analysis here:
If the PM is to survive his Commons grilling today, here’s what he must do
Badenoch: Starmer would have been told about Mandelson vetting after Independent messages to No 10
09:25 , Athena StavrouKemi Badenoch has said does not “see how it is possible” that Sir Keir Starmer was not told about the possibility of Peter Mandelson having failed his vetting after The Independent asked No 10 about it seven months ago.
Downing Street has maintained that Sir Keir did not know about the vetting failures despite it was revealed last week that The Independent approached No 10 about claims that Lord Mandelson had not cleared his security vetting as long ago as last September, when the disgraced peer was sacked from his post as ambassador to the US.
The Conservative Party leader expressed doubts that Sir Keir would not have been told about the story by his then director of communications Tim Allen.
“I don't see how that is possible, or even likely,” she said.“What happens in government, even as leader of the opposition, every time the press come with questions, you as the leader get asked: ‘This is what they're asking. What do we say’.”
She added: “I do not understand how the director of communications in No 10, the most senior comms person in the whole of government, heard this and didn't tell anybody.”
Badenoch claims Starmer will 'throw everybody under the bus'
09:13 , Holly EvansTory leader Kemi Badenoch said the Lord Mandelson row was “an issue of national security”.
She told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “Somebody who was a national security risk – and this had been flagged – was put into the most senior and sensitive diplomatic post, where all sorts of information, intelligence, which I would not have seen as a secretary of state, would have come across his desk. A national security issue.
“And what I find really shocking is how so many people’s careers are being ended over this, but the Prime Minister is not taking responsibility. He’s throwing everybody under a bus.”
Mrs Badenoch said ultimately it would be Labour MPs who had to decide on the Prime Minister’s fate.
“I’ve already said that he should resign, I don’t think that he will resign,” she added. “He’s going to cling on. He will throw everybody under a bus, including his own MPs who are, some of them, going out to defend him.
“Sadly, the public did not give enough Conservative MPs to bring down the Labour Prime Minister. It’s Labour MPs who can do that. They will have to look in their own hearts and decide whether they want to be complicit in this cover-up.”
Starmer faces 'one of the worst crises in relations between ministers and mandarins'
09:01 , Holly EvansThe prime minister is facing on of the “worst crises in relations between ministers and mandarins of modern times”, a former cabinet secretary has said.
Mandarins is a term used for high-ranking senior civil servants who help ministers to shape policy.
Gus O’Donnell said that the dismissal of Sir Olly Robbins, the former Foreign Office head, risks having a “serious and sustained chilling effect” on serving civil servants.
Sir Olly was sacked from his role after it emerged he had not informed Sir Keir Starmer that Lord Peter Mandelson had failed his vetting for his role as US ambassador.
Mr O’Donnell wrote in The Times that Sir Keir and his new cabinet secretary Dame Antonia Romeo must ensure that rebuilding the relationship with civil service heads is “one of their very top priorities”.
Sir Olly Robbins had rebuilt Foreign Office after budget cuts
08:52 , Holly EvansSir Olly Robbins had been responsible for overseeing the reform of the Foreign Office after it suffered the largest budget cuts of any part of Whitehall in last year’s spending review.
The former chief was said to have faced the cuts with a “brave” programme of major changes, with one ex cabinet secretary stating he had done more than any other department head in addressing “some serious and longstanding criticisms of the civil service”.
Gus O’Donnell, who served under three prime ministers between 2005 and 2011, wrote in The Times that Sir Olly had reduced whole layers of senior management and focused on fewer tasks with greater impact.
“The loss of his leadership will be acutely felt across our global network,” he wrote.
PM was aware of some Mandelson reputational red flags, says minister
08:29 , Holly EvansA cabinet minister has said that although the prime minister was aware of some “red flags” raised during Peter Mandelson’s vetting process - but not ones found by the Foreign Office.
Scotland secretary Douglas Alexander said on Friday that Sir Keir Starmer has not lied about being in the dark about security services recommending against Mandelson’s appointment.
However, he said some reputational issues had been flagged by the Cabinet Office in a separate part of the vetting process.
When asked if he could ‘resolutely deny” reports that Sir Keir was aware of issues over vetting prior to his appointment, he told LBC: “My understanding is there are two processes of vetting. There is work undertaken by the Cabinet Office, and then there is the developed vetting process led by the foreign commonwealth and development office."
He added: “There was reputational issues that have been flagged from the Cabinet Office that’s…that's very separate and distinct from the deep vetting that involves very intrusive questions being asked about your financial affairs, about your personal relationships, all the questions that form part of develop vetting.”
Watch: Starmer expected to lead Labour into next election, says minister
08:19 , Holly EvansAccusing the PM of lying ‘reflects badly’ on Badenoch, minister says
08:07 , Athena StavrouA government minister has said Kemi Badenoch’s accusation that Sir Keir Starmer is lying over what he knew about Peter Mandelson’s vetting failures “reflects badly” on her.
The Conservative Party leader accused Sir Keir of a “cover up” and said a number of times that she believed he was “lying”.
On Friday Scotland secretary Douglas Alexander hit back at Ms Badenoch, and said for her claims to be true, the government would “need to be part of a conspiracy involving not just the prime minister, every minister involved in Peter Mandelson's appointment, but a growing number of senior civil servants.”
He added: “The reason that we're having this debate in the Commons today is actually in no small measure because of the judgment of the leader of the opposition, who alleged very clearly as recently as Friday that the prime minister had knowingly misled the public and parliament, that the prime minister has lied.
“That is simply not true, and indeed, I think, calls into question the judgment of the leader of the opposition.”
Minister: Starmer should lead Labour into next election - but there are ‘no certainties’
08:00 , Athena StavrouSpeculation that Sir Keir Starmer could be facing a leadership challenge has ramped up in the wake of the latest revelations in the Peter Mandelson scandal.
Labour MPs have voiced their renewed discontent in their leader, as leadership frontrunners Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham were seen holding a secret meeting on Friday.
Scotland secretary Douglas Alexander insisted on Friday that he believed Sir Keir should lead the party into the next general election - but admitted there are “no certainties”.
Asked if he thought Sir Keir would still be at the helm at the next election, he told Sky News: “There are no certainties.
“But I think he will and I think he should because, frankly, on the biggest call of this Parliament he's exercised the right judgment - which is to keep us out of someone else's war.”
Asked what the thought Mr Burnham and Ms Rayner discussed during their summit over the weekend, he said: “Andy is a sociable guy. I have no idea what he was talking about. Probably his favourite football team, Everton, amongst other things, because Andy always talks about Everton.”
Ex-Foreign Office chief takes legal advice over Mandelson sacking
07:48 , Holly EvansSir Olly Robbins, the former head of the Foreign Office, is reportedly seeking legal advice after being sacked by Sir Keir Starmer after he failed to tell the prime minister that Lord Peter Mandelson had failed a vetting check.
Friends of Sir Olly have told the Financial Times that he feels aggrieved by his dismissal and has sought the advice of lawyers ahead of his appearance before the House of Commons foreign affairs committee on Tuesday.
During his own appearance before MPs today, Sir Keir is set to place blame upon Sir Olly after saying it was “staggering” he had not been informed of the vetting failure.
One senior former Foreign Office official said: “Starmer has been casting around for someone to blame, other than himself. It wasn’t just the firing, it was the pile-on afterwards. It’s another person thrown under the bus.”
Kemi Badenoch has accused Sir Keir of being 'contemptuous of Parliament'
07:39 , Holly EvansIn a letter to the Prime Minister, Kemi Badenoch said claimed Sir Keir is “either lying or he’s incompetent”.
The Tory leader said: “As an experienced barrister you will know the importance of telling the truth, but you will also know that many people think you have been at best recklessly negligent and at worst dishonest about this whole affair.
“You have failed to answer very simple questions about what you did and what you knew. This is contemptuous of Parliament, discourteous to the House, and against the fundamental requirement set out in your own Ministerial Code.”
Mrs Badenoch said: “This has been a tawdry and shaming affair for you and your party, and for this country.
“Not only have you damaged our relationship with the United States and insulted the victims of the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, but you have also undermined our national security by giving the highest diplomatic post to an individual that the security services found to be of ‘high concern’.”
PM was warned about Mandelson's 'red flags', Whitehall sources say
07:29 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer had been warned of certain red flags regarding Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment, Whitehall sources have claimed.
The Telegraph reports that these concerns focused on the Labour peer’s links to Russia and China, which led officials from the UK Security Vetting agency (UKSV) to advise against him receiving the green light.
One senior source said: “The reality is that Starmer had already been warned about the major risks and he had waved them away.”
It is claimed that Sir Keir pressed ahead with the appointment to US ambassador regardless of this advice.
A due diligence report compiled by the Cabinet Office, which was handed to the prime minister, had cited concerns about his business interests in China and his previous position as a non-executive director of Russian conglomerate Sistema, a role he continued after Putin’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
The UKSV’s findings were similar to the due diligence report, with private advice given to Sir Olly Robbins, the former Foreign Office chief, which was not passed on to Sir Keir.
Starmer faces Commons showdown over Mandelson vetting scandal
07:17 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer will battle to save his job in Parliament on Monday by setting out further details of the “unforgivable” error by officials in not telling him Peter Mandelson had failed his security vetting.
In a Commons statement, Sir Keir will be faced with allegations he misled Parliament after telling MPs the proper process had been followed in appointing Lord Mandelson to the post of ambassador to the US, insisting he had been kept in the dark about the peer being red-flagged by security experts.
Sir Keir effectively fired the Foreign Office’s top official Sir Olly Robbins last week after it emerged Lord Mandelson had been given developed vetting (DV) status despite failing checks carried out by the agency responsible for assessing security clearances.
Whitehall veteran Sir Olly is expected to give his own account to MPs on Tuesday at the Foreign Affairs Committee.
The scandal has fuelled calls for Sir Keir to resign, both from opposition parties but also from his critics within the Labour movement who already fear an electoral bloodbath for the party in May’s contests in English councils and the Scottish and Welsh parliaments.
Former head of Foreign Office expected to be grilled by MPs
Sunday 19 April 2026 16:50 , Holly BancroftIf Sir Keir Starmer clings on to his position on Monday, he faces another tricky day of headlines on Tuesday, when the former head of the Foreign Office could be called before MPs to speak about the Mandelson vetting scandal.
Sir Olly Robbins was effectively sacked last week over his handling of Lord Mandelson’s vetting process to be US ambassador.
Sir Olly will reportedly mount a staunch defence of his decision to approve Lord Mandelson’s appointment this week, which could throw Sir Keir’s government into further disarray.
A friend of Sir Olly told The Times that he was furious at the way he had been treated and was prepared to make clear to MPs that he had followed the correct procedure when he apparently kept Sir Keir in the dark about the vetting failure.
Sir Olly could appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee as early as Tuesday, with a slot currently listed at 10:30am to consider “work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office”.
When will Sir Keir Starmer face MPs on Monday?
Sunday 19 April 2026 16:44 , Holly BancroftSir Keir Starmer is due to give a statement about Lord Mandelson’s vetting process in the Commons on Monday afternoon.
A slot for urgent questions or ministerial statements is available at 15:30. According to parliament’s bulletin, Sir Keir is expected to make a statement then.
Who has called for Sir Keir Starmer to step down?
Sunday 19 April 2026 16:33 , Holly BancroftOpposition leaders have called for Sir Keir Starmer to resign, with Kemi Badenoch claiming it is “simply not possible” Sir Keir wasn’t aware Lord Mandelson had failed his vetting process.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has said the situation shows “catastrophically poor judgement” and said that the evidence suggests that Sir Keir misled the public and parliament.
Green leader Zack Polanski has said that the revelations should lead to Sir Keir’s resignations, adding: “Any other outcome would be an absurd scenario where this Labour government - and all in it - would be laughing in our faces”.
Reform UK’s Nigel Farage has said that the prime minister “has misled parliament”, adding that he has “lied to the public”. He said: “Enough is enough. It’s time to get Starmer out”.
Why is Sir Keir Starmer facing calls to resign?
Sunday 19 April 2026 16:19 , Holly BancroftThe prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls to step down after further revelations last week that his pick for the role of US ambassador, Lord Peter Mandelson, had failed security vetting.
Lord Mandelson’s was green-lit by officials in the Foreign Office despite the concerns after Downing Street had made it clear that they wanted Lord Mandelson to take up the position.
Downing Street claimed last week that Sir Keir was only made aware of the vetting failure last week when documents detailing his appointment came to light. No10 made the claims despite The Independent’s political editor David Maddox telling Downing Street’s then-director of communications last September that MI6 had failed to clear the then-Labour peer, largely because of concerns over his business links to China.
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