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Ministers rally around Keir Starmer as leadership questions grow over Mandelson saga – UK politics live
TL;DR
Liz Kendall defended Keir Starmer amid leadership questions over Peter Mandelson's failed security vetting. She emphasized Starmer's integrity and stated he would not have proceeded with the appointment had he known about the vetting issue.
Key points
- Liz Kendall defended Keir Starmer's integrity
- Peter Mandelson failed security vetting
- Kendall stated Starmer would not have proceeded with the appointment
- Sir Olly Robbins was criticized for not informing Starmer
- The issue was described as a serious mistake
Mentioned in this story
Liz KendallKeir StarmerPeter MandelsonDavid LammySir Olly Robbins
Liz Kendall has repeated David Lammy’s claim the prime minister would have stopped Peter Mandelson’s appointment if he had known the peer had failed security vetting.
Speaking to Trevor Phillips on Sky News on Sunday, the science and technology said Keir Starmer was a “man of integrity”.
She “completely refuted” that Starmer would do anything to put the UK at risk.
Kendall said: “He is a man of integrity and there is no way he would have proceeded with that, whatever the so-called embarrassment. He would have thought that was wrong, and he would not have done.”
She had earlier said Sir Olly Robbins was “wrong” not to tell Starmer or the foreign secretary, that UK security vetting had advised against the appointment and the issue was a “serious mistake”.
“I think that was wrong at the start, and then subsequently wrong because as you well know Trevor, the prime minister and ministers made a series of statements in parliament about this about it. I think that was a failure, and that’s why he lost the confidence of the prime minister and foreign secretary,” Kendall said.
Keir Starmer faces yet another difficult day as prime minister as questions about his leadership swirl caused by the Peter Mandelson saga this morning, although his cabinet colleagues are rallying around him.
Starmer’s science and technology secretary, Liz Kendall, will speak to the BBC this morning as the fallout from Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US continues.
The deputy prime minister David Lammy said on Saturday that Starmer would have stopped Mandelson from taking up the role if he had known he had failed security vetting. He is among numerous ministers who have spoken out in support of the prime minister since the news on Thursday that Mandelson had not passed the security checks process.
Last night the Sunday Times reported the reason Mandelson failed the vetting was because the biggest client of his lobbying firm, Global Counsel, was a firm linked to the Chinese military.
Starmer has faced renewed calls to resign from opponents since the latest development was reported, and the pressure is expected to continue with Reform UK’s finance spokesperson Robert Jenrick, and Conservative shadow minister Alex Burghart are due to speak to the BBC this morning.
We’ll bring you the latest lines here.
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Q&A
What did Liz Kendall say about Keir Starmer's integrity regarding Mandelson's appointment?
Liz Kendall stated that Keir Starmer is a man of integrity and would not have proceeded with Peter Mandelson's appointment if he had known about the failed security vetting.
What was the controversy surrounding Peter Mandelson's appointment?
The controversy involved Peter Mandelson failing security vetting, which raised questions about whether Keir Starmer was aware of this issue before the appointment.
Who criticized Sir Olly Robbins regarding the Mandelson saga?
Liz Kendall criticized Sir Olly Robbins for not informing Keir Starmer or the foreign secretary about the security vetting advice against Mandelson's appointment.
