Mandelson-Epstein latest: Starmer says ex-US ambassador ‘lied repeatedly’ during appointment process
Kemi Badenoch demands PM explains vetting process for former US ambassador as Wes Streeting describes ‘feelings of deep betrayal’ across Labour
Sir Keir Starmer said Lord Peter Mandelson “lied repeatedly” about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein during the appointment process to the US ambassador job.
The prime minister told PMQs that he “regrets” appointing Lord Mandelson as US ambassador after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch questioned his “judgement”.
He told MPs at PMQs: “To learn that there was a cabinet minister leaking sensitive information at the height of the response the 2008 crash is beyond infuriating, and I'm as angry as the public.”
Ms Badenoch said the appointment “goes to the very heart of this prime minister’s judgement”.
The PM confirmed that a bill will go through parliament to remove Mandelson’s title as well and he is also moving to remove the disgraced peer from the Privy Council.
Sir Keir will also release explosive documents in a bid to quell Labour anger over scandal and fight off demands from the Conservatives for full disclosure.
The party wants all documents relating to the appointment to be released - including all communication between Lord Mandelson and the prime minister’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney relating to his association with Epstein - and plan to use an arcane parliamentary mechanism to compel Labour to produce the files.
Files released by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) last Friday appear to show that Lord Mandelson leaked sensitive government information to Epstein while serving as business secretary in Gordon Brown's Labour administration as it dealt with the 2008 financial crash and its aftermath.
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Downing Street chief of staff Morgan McSweeney is "an essential part" of the No 10 team, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told the Commons: "He says the Cabinet Secretary (Sir Chris Wormald) makes it non-political, but that doesn't make it independent. What we want is an independent look. The (Intelligence and Security Committee) is independent - the Cabinet Secretary works for him.
"We know that there will be a cover up because this implicates the Prime Minister and his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, a protege of Peter Mandelson.
"The Prime Minister chose to inject Mandelson's poison into the heart of his Government on the advice of Morgan McSweeney."
Mrs Badenoch asked: "After all of this, does he have the same full confidence in Morgan McSweeney that he had in Peter Mandelson?"
Sir Keir replied: "Morgan McSweeney is an essential part of my team. He helped me change the Labour Party and win an election. Of course, I have confidence.
"But whatever is slung across this despatch box, I don't think it's right for the Cabinet Secretary to be denigrated in that way and to suggest that he would be involved in a cover-up."
Tory spokesman says 'very serious questions' raised over PM's judgement
In response to the PMQs, a Conservative spokesman said: “The prime minister has just admitted that the official security vetting highlighted Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, but he went ahead and appointed him anyway.
“This is the first time the prime minister has admitted this and it raises very serious questions over Keir Starmer’s shocking judgement.
“The PM is now trying to orchestrate a cover up by having his own government mark his homework. All MPs must now support the Conservatives’ humble address so that we reveal the full extent of this scandal and the shocking failure of Keir Starmer and his operation.”
Badenoch urges Labour MPs to vote in favour of releasing all Mandelson documents
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch urged Labour MPs to vote in favour of releasing all documents relating to Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment, "not just the ones the prime minister wants us to see".
In the Commons, she said: "How can he stand up there saying that he knew, but he just asked Peter Mandelson if the security vetting was true or false? This is a man who had been sacked from Cabinet twice already for unethical behaviour.
"That is absolutely shocking, and that is why later today, my party will call on the government to release all documents relating to Mandelson's appointment. Not just the ones the prime minister wants us to see.
"Because this government is trying to sabotage that release with an amendment to let him choose what we see. Labour MPs now have to decide if they want to be accessories to his cover up. Can the prime minister guarantee that he won't remove the whip if they refuse to vote for his whitewash amendment?"
Sir Keir Starmer replied: "The first exemption is in relation to anything that could compromise national security. That is not a small matter, and many members on the benches opposite will know precisely why that needs to be in the exemption."
He added: "The second exemption is in relation to things that would prejudice international relations. There will be discussions about security and intelligence and trade which are highly sensitive to the two countries involved and to third countries."
PM says Mandelson 'misrepresented the extent of his relationship with Epstein' during vetting process
Sir Keir Starmer said Lord Peter Mandelson's relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was included in the official security vetting but the former US ambassador "completely misrepresented the extent of his relationship".
In the Commons, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: "The Prime Minister cannot blame the process. He did know, it was on Google. If the Conservative research department could find this information out, why couldn't Number 10?
"On the 10th of September, when we knew this, I asked him at that despatch box, he gave Mandelson his full confidence at that despatch box, not once, but twice. He only sacked him after pressure from us."
She added: "Can the Prime Minister tell us did the official security vetting he received mention Mandelson's ongoing relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein?"
Sir Keir replied: "Yes it did. As a result, various questions were put to him.
"I intend to disclose to this House all of the - national security prejudice to international relations on one side - I want to make sure this House sees the full documentation so it will see for itself the extent to which time and time again Mandelson completely misrepresented the extent of his relationship with Epstein and lied throughout the process, including in response to the due diligence."
Morgan McSweeney now in full focus
David Maddox reports:
Kemi Badenoch has turned her fire on the prime minister’s right hand man, his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney.
McSweeney was the one who was understood to be at the heart of appointing Mandelson to be ambassador of the US and then pleading to not sack him.
Ms Badenoch asked if the prime minister has confidence in McSweeney.
Sir Keir replies: “Of course I do…he won an election.”
A number of Labour MPs behind Sir Keir will be quietly cheering Ms Badenoch for going after McSweeney who himself was a protege of Mandelson.
PM admits he was aware of Mandelson's relationship with Epstein when making appointment
Sir Keir Starmer said he was aware of Lord Peter Mandelson's ongoing relationship with Jeffrey Epstein when he appointed him as ambassador to the US.
He added that the House will see the "full documentation" and "the extent to which time and time again Mandelson completely misrepresented the extent of his relationship with Epstein and lied throughout the process".
Analysis: Kemi Badenoch moves Mandelson scandal on to Starmer’s personal judgement
David Maddox reports:
Kemi Badenoch clearly sees that the prime minister is exposed for appointing Mandelson in the first place to the UK’s most important diplomatic post.
She is pushing on what Sir Keir knew when making Mandelson ambassador to the US, pointing out that many of the revelations could have been found “with a simple Google search”.
This boils down to the debate later in the day on the Humble Address to publish all the documents about the vetting of Mandelson for the post.
Sir Keir wants to exempt all material which would “prejudice national security” and other material on “highly sensitive” international discussions.
He is preparing to add material which might “prejudice the criminal investigation” into Mandelson.
Ms Badenoch argues that this is “a whitewash amendment” and warns Labour MPs about voting for it.
In the end though this will come down to a question of whether Sir Keir’s judgement was badly awry last year when he made the appointment. At a time when his position is weak this could be pivotal.
Met Police warn Starmer over publishing information that could prejudice investigation
Millie Cooke reports:
The Met Police have been in touch with the prime minister to "raise issues about anything that would prejudice their investigation", Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The PM, who was met with laughter in the Commons as he said he wanted to be "totally open" with MPs in the House, went on: "You and the House will appreciate that in the course of discussions, country to country, there are very sensitive issues of security, intelligence and trade which cannot be disclosed without compromising the relationship between the two countries or a third country.
“Mr Speaker, so I can be totally open with the House, the Metropolitan Police have been in touch with my office this morning to raise issues about anything that would prejudice their investigation.
“We're in discussion with them about that and I hope to be able to update the House. But I do think I should make that clear to the House because those discussions are ongoing."
Starmer confirms he will release Mandelson vetting documents
Athena Stavrou reports:
The prime minister has confirmed he will publish documents related to the vetting process Peter Mandelson underwent before he was appointed US ambassador.
The documents are expected to include information on the vetting process Lord Mandelson went through before being given the Washington job.
“I intend to make sure all of the material is published,” Sir Keir Starmer said during PMQs.
However, he added there would be exemptions for national security and anything that will prejudice national relations.
He also said the Metropolitan Police had been in touch to raise issues about anything that would prejudice their investigations.
Starmer to press ahead with stripping Mandelson of his title
David Maddox reports:
Mandelson’s resignation from the House of Lords is clearly not enough for Sir Keir Starmer.
The prime minister has confirmed that a bill will go through parliament to remove Mandelson’s title as well and he is also moving to remove the disgraced peer from the Privy Council.
Sir Keir’s did not hide his fury at the revelations concerning Mandelson saying that he had “betrayed” the country and damaged the reputation of “the Privy Council”.
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