MPs reject bid to investigate claim Starmer misled Commons over Mandelson appointment

Keir Starmer will not face a parliamentary investigation into claims he misled the UK parliament over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US.

MPs rejected a bid by the Conservatives to refer the UK prime minister to the Commons Privileges Committee on Tuesday by 335 to 223 after Labour MPs were ordered to oppose the move.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch had accused the UK prime minister of misleading the Commons by claiming “full due process” had been followed and “no pressure existed” in Lord Mandelson’s appointment.

Some Labour figures have branded Badenoch’s call for an investigation a “political stunt”.

But a handful of backbenchers broke ranks on Tuesday to criticise the UK government for whipping its MPs to oppose the motion, and suggested the UK prime minister should refer himself to the Privileges Committee to “clear his name”.

Starmer has consistently denied misleading the House, leaning on the conclusion of former Cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald that “appropriate processes” were followed.

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McSweeney denies swearing at UK Foreign Office boss to speed up Mandelson vetting

But earlier on Tuesday, former senior Foreign Office mandarin Philip Barton declined to endorse Sir Keir’s assessment, saying it was for MPs to form their own view.

Philip told the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee it was unusual for the peer’s appointment to be announced before security vetting had been completed and suggested there was pressure to “get on with” approving Mandelson’s developed vetting (DV).

The committee also heard from Starmer’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, who insisted he did not “ask officials to ignore procedures, request that steps should be skipped, or communicate explicitly or implicitly that checks should be cleared at all costs” during the appointment of Lord Mandelson.