UK Parliament Votes Down Inquiry Into PM Keir Starmer's Mandelson Appointment
Parliamentary Vote and Political Reactions
Background of the Mandelson Appointment
LONDON, April 28 (Reuters) - British lawmakers voted on Tuesday against launching an inquiry into whether Prime Minister Keir Starmer misled parliament in statements about his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States.
Starmer picked Labour veteran Mandelson for the top diplomatic posting in December 2024 and then sacked him last September when his ties to the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were found to have been deeper than previously known.
Starmer's Response and Justification
The prime minister has resisted pressure to quit over the matter, saying Mandelson lied about his relationship with Epstein. Starmer also said officials had kept information from him about the vetting process that would have stopped him making the appointment.
The Parliamentary Vote
On Tuesday, lawmakers voted 335 to 223 against asking the Committee of Privileges to investigate whether Starmer had misled the House of Commons on several matters, including by saying "full due process" had been followed around the appointment.
Potential Consequences for Starmer
If the committee had found Starmer deliberately misled parliament, he would have been expected to resign.
Political Fallout and Opposition Response
Conservative Party's Stance
Starmer had criticised the attempt, led by the opposition Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch, to launch an investigation, calling it a political stunt timed to sway voters before local and regional elections on May 7.
Labour Party's Unified Opposition
He ordered lawmakers in his centre-left Labour Party to oppose an investigation, resulting in the overwhelming rejection. Badenoch said it was a sign of Starmer's weakness that he had to use such an order.
(Reporting by William JamesEditing by Gareth Jones)
