All posts tagged: Peter Mandelson

Keir Starmer facing ‘resignation time’ over Peter Mandelson scandal | Politics | News

Keir Starmer facing ‘resignation time’ over Peter Mandelson scandal | Politics | News

Published by Sam Flores

The flare-up of the Mandelson scandal threatens Sir Keir Starmer’s political future (Image: Getty) Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls to quit so the Government will not be distracted by a “personal crisis of his own making” following the latest revelations about Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador. The Labour leader’s future could hinge on the expected appearance before MPs on Tuesday by Olly Robbins. The former top civil servant at the Foreign Office was ousted on Thursday amid claims his department did not tell the Prime Minister that Mandelson had failed security vetting. Sir Keir will stand before MPs on Monday and detail how Mandelson – a former close friend of billionaire sex predator Jeffrey Epstein – was granted the top diplomatic post. The PM claims “no minister was told” that this veteran of the Blair and Brown governments had failed the vetting process. A Labour MP told the Sunday Express: “If that is proven incorrect then I think we are talking resignation time, to be honest.” The MP said the evidence that Mr …

Starmer defies calls to resign as he sacks Foreign Office chief after Mandelson vetting scandal explodes

Starmer defies calls to resign as he sacks Foreign Office chief after Mandelson vetting scandal explodes

Published by Sam Flores

He told LBC: “None of this adds up, the idea they weren’t told about the vetting. Remember, in the House of Commons, Starmer actually said that the vetting had told him about the ongoing relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, then outside of the House, in Hastings, he gave a speech in which he said that Mandelson had cleared security vetting. Source link

Starmer ‘furious’ over Mandelson vetting failures as Labour critics pounce – POLITICO

Starmer ‘furious’ over Mandelson vetting failures as Labour critics pounce – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Starmer is facing intense scrutiny over what he and his team knew about Mandelson’s clearance for the top diplomatic post when he was appointed in December 2024. Olly Robbins was dismissed as head of the Foreign Office Thursday evening after losing the confidence of Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper over the row. Mandelson became U.S. ambassador in February 2025 before being sacked in September over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Guardian first reported Thursday afternoon Mandelson did not pass his security vetting clearance, but that the Foreign Office overruled the decision. Starmer ally Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, told the BBC on Friday morning that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had ignored the advice of United Kingdom Security Vetting, the government’s screening agency. “I find this whole situation astonishing,” Jones said in his BBC remarks, adding that he had last night suspended the Foreign Office’s right to ignore security vetting going forward. “That is a failure of state process that was in line with the rules, …

Starmer dismisses top official Robbins as Mandelson vetting crisis deepens – POLITICO

Starmer dismisses top official Robbins as Mandelson vetting crisis deepens – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

“All we want is the truth,” MP Rachael Maskell told POLITICO. “Now a different account of Mr. Mandelson’s security clearance has been brought to light we need accountability as to why we were provided a different version of events.” A highly loyal MP, granted anonymity to discuss internal party matters, said Thursday night: “This is bad, very, very bad. There are so many factors, I don’t know if it will be the end, but it definitely could be.” Robbins’ rocky path The departure of Robbins is the latest twist in a Whitehall career that has seen the senior official — once marked out as a future head of the country’s civil service — take repeated political flak. Robbins served as chief Brexit negotiator during the doomed premiership of Theresa May. As talks with Brussels appeared to be steering the U.K. into a compromise deal, he found himself pilloried as they bogeyman of hardline Tory MPs and newspapers, earning the moniker “the PM’s Rasputin” in one Times article.   When May was finally ousted in 2019, to be replaced by …

Peter Mandelson faces £300 fine after urinating on a wall | UK | News

Peter Mandelson faces £300 fine after urinating on a wall | UK | News

Published by Sam Flores

Disgraced peer Lord Mandelson is facing a fine of up to £300 after he was pictured urinating in the street. The former US ambassador was photographed relieving himself in Notting Hill, west London, last November after attending a dinner party with former Conservative Chancellor George Osborne. Kensington and Chelsea council confirmed it is seeking to issue a fixed-penalty notice to the former Labour grandee over the incident which carries a maximum fine of £300 within the borough, which can be reduced to £150 if paid within 14 days. A council spokesperson said: “We are looking to issue a fixed penalty notice but need to obtain a suitable address.” A fixed-penalty notice is not a criminal conviction but can show up on the police national computer. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea confirmed it is looking to fine Lord Mandelson, as first reported by The Sun newspaper. Responding to the initial reports, Mandelson said: “I can only offer my profuse apologies. “I was stood up by two Uber drivers and kept waiting in the street …

Police gear up to interview high-profile witnesses over Peter Mandelson – POLITICO

Police gear up to interview high-profile witnesses over Peter Mandelson – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

As is standard in a British police investigation, the force has not disclosed who it would question as a witness, and being questioned as such would not imply any wrongdoing. The Metropolitan Police declined to comment on an ongoing investigation. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced scrutiny over what Mandelson said during the process that led to his appointment as ambassador to D.C., and has claimed he was misled by the veteran Labour politician during that process. There is little precedent for interviewing a serving prime minister as a witness, although Tony Blair was in 2006 questioned by police as a witness in a criminal probe during the “cash-for-honors” scandal. In 2022 Boris Johnson answered a police questionnaire under caution over coronavirus lockdown-breaching parties in government. Police are likely to have multiple leads to pursue before taking such a sensitive decision. Whether to interview Morgan McSweeney, who as chief of staff advised Starmer over Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador, is under active consideration. The powerful adviser resigned from the role as scrutiny over the appointment process …

Peter Mandelson’s resignation ‘slowed’ UK-US trade talks, says US ambassador – POLITICO

Peter Mandelson’s resignation ‘slowed’ UK-US trade talks, says US ambassador – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

While Stephens said the pact locks in “the lowest” tariffs of any U.S. trade partner, he called for the U.K. to move faster in wrapping up the next stage of talks. “No one shakes hands on a deal and then refuses to deliver the promised product. People agree on terms, then implement the deal to profit both their businesses,” Stephens told the British Chambers of Commerce Driving International Trade Conference. “We’re excited by these deals and we’re ready to act on them — we just want to see our partners showing that same urgency and commitment to delivery,” he added. The legal text of a pharmaceutical deal for the U.K. to spend more on cutting-edge drugs is still being nailed down, and the U.S. has yet to lift 25 percent duties on British steel. Britain is also pushing for tariff relief for Scotch whisky exports. Meanwhile progress on the Tech Prosperity Deal, agreed during Trump’s second state visit last September, was paused in December as the U.S. pushed London to honor the terms of the …