Starmer under fire: privileges committee sparks political brawl
Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure as a cross-party investigation into the appointment of Peter Mandelson intensifies, with senior Labour figures accusing the Conservatives of staging a cynical attempt to derail the local elections.
A battle of wills over mandelson’s past
A series of prominent Labour figures have dismissed calls for a fresh inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Peter Mandelson’s return to government, dismissing it as a politically motivated stunt. The Conservatives, however, are pushing for a formal referral to the Independent Cross-party Committee on Privileges, citing alleged breaches of parliamentary procedure and potential misleading of the House.
The committee, known for its scrutiny of MPs’ conduct, previously investigated Boris Johnson’s handling of lockdown-breaking parties at Downing Street, ultimately finding him deliberately misled Parliament. Now, it's turned its attention to Starmer’s actions and the process by which Mandelson was brought back into the fold.
The Foreign Affairs Committee is already examining the appointment, and Downing Street maintains that evidence gathered – including testimony from senior civil servants – supports Starmer’s claims of acting within established protocols. But the Conservatives aren't backing down. Former Cabinet ministers Alan Johnson and David Blunkett have issued a scathing rebuke, portraying the proposed vote as a ‘nakedly political stunt’ with no genuine substance, comparing it to Johnson’s previous misleading statements as ‘absurd’.
“When Parliament referred that matter to the privileges committee, a police investigation had directly disproved his categoric statements that he knew nothing about the breach of lockdown rules, including parties in Downing Street, and therefore he had a case to answer for knowingly misleading the House of Commons,” they stated. The timing – just ten days before crucial local elections – is undeniably strategic.
Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, defended the committee’s ongoing investigation, arguing that a second inquiry is unnecessary until the current one concludes. “It may be that at some stage in the future some of the questions haven’t been answered and it is decided that they are of sufficient importance that the privileges committee should be involved,” she told the BBC. “But apart from potentially people trying to score points in advance of the local elections, I don't see the need for it before that stage.”
Testimony is expected from key figures including former Head of the Foreign Office, Olly Robbins – who was removed by Starmer for failing to disclose Mandelson’s initial security vetting issues – and Cat Little, the Cabinet Office’s lead official. Philip Barton, Robbins’ predecessor, and Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s former chief of staff and a close associate of Mandelson, will also be questioned.
Emma Reynolds, the Environment Secretary, dismissed the Conservatives' proposed vote as ‘silly political games,’ emphasizing the importance of focusing on pressing national issues. “He hasn’t lied to parliament,” Reynolds stated emphatically, referencing the recent evidence from Robbins and Little, which categorically refuted claims of wrongdoing. The opposition’s attempts to use this controversy are, frankly, a distraction.
Ultimately, the decision to proceed with the inquiry rests with the House Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle. The potential for a parliamentary vote against the referral remains significant, with Labour reportedly prepared to ‘whip’ its MPs to oppose the motion. The stakes are high, and the political maneuvering is already underway.