Sir Keir Starmer faces one of the most critical days of his troubled premiership as MPs vote on whether he should be investigated by the Privileges Committee. The vote, set for this evening, follows accusations from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and others that the Prime Minister misled Parliament regarding his appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US.
The Two-Part Accusation
The case against Starmer hinges on two technical arguments. First, Badenoch claims Starmer misled the House when he said 'due process' was followed. She cites advice from former Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, who recommended that the announcement of Mandelson's appointment should occur only after vetting. However, the vetting took place after the announcement. In response, Starmer points to later advice from Case's successor, Chris Wormald, who concluded that 'appropriate processes were followed.' This suggests the timeline may vary case by case.
Second, during Prime Minister's Questions, Starmer stated there was 'no pressure whatsoever' on the Foreign Office to expedite the process. Yet former top Foreign Office civil servant Sir Olly Robbins told the Foreign Affairs Committee he faced 'constant pressure.' The government argues this pressure was about timeliness, not influencing vetting results. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said on the BBC's Today programme: 'Is there pressure in government to make sure things are done in a timely way? Yes, that's absolutely what you'd expect.'
Supporting Evidence
Government figures were buoyed by testimony from Sir Phillip Barton, Robbins' predecessor, who told the Foreign Affairs Committee: 'During my tenure, I was not aware of any pressure on the substance of the Mandelson DV case.' This bolsters the government's position that no improper pressure was applied.
Consequences of a Yes Vote
If the vote passes, Starmer faces a prolonged Privileges Committee investigation, which could find he misled Parliament on one or both points. Even without a finding of wrongdoing, the drawn-out affair would be painful for a PM who has already called the appointment a mistake and apologized. A finding of misleading Parliament would likely force his resignation—a bitter irony, as Starmer championed the Privileges Committee probe that ended Boris Johnson's career.
Likelihood of Passage
Despite internal discontent, the vote is unlikely to pass. Labour's large majority means backbenchers are reluctant to hand the Tories a victory just before the May 7 elections. Government whips have been contacting Labour MPs to ensure loyalty, though the need for such efforts signals ongoing tension. Anger over the Mandelson appointment persists and could erupt after local election results emerge.
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