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Pressure on Starmer grows over Mandelson vetting despite ousting of Foreign Office official – UK politics live
TL;DR
Keir Starmer is under increasing pressure over the vetting process of Peter Mandelson, with senior government figures calling it 'judgment day.' Prime Minister expressed anger over the lack of communication regarding the vetting recommendation.
Key points
- Keir Starmer faces pressure over Mandelson's vetting process.
- Prime Minister furious about lack of communication on vetting.
- Olly Robbins to appear before MPs next week.
Mentioned in this story
Keir StarmerPeter MandelsonOlly RobbinsAntonia RomeoCatherine Little
Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of UK politics on Saturday 18 April.
Keir Starmer is facing “judgment day” according to senior government figures over the failure in Peter Mandelson’s vetting process.
The prime minister has said that was “staggered” and “furious” to have not been told about the vetting recommendation, saying that the lack of communication about the matter was unforgivable.
His government has also denied that the cabinet secretary, Antonia Romeo, and Catherine Little, the Cabinet Office’s permanent secretary, were “sitting on” the information, despite both having become aware of the situation last month.
Next week, Starmer will face what is being described as a “judgment day” as Olly Robbins, who was forced to quit the Foreign Office owing to the fallout of the failures of Mandleson’s vetting, is expected to appear before a powerful committee of MPs.
Olly Robbins was forced to quit the Foreign Office. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA
Robbins is understood to have been furious at being forced out, and there are fears that his side of events could leave Starmer, who is already facing fresh calls to resign, in an even more precarious situation.
You can read our latest report from my colleague and Guardian political editor Pippa Crerar here:
In other developments:
- Green Party MP Hannah Spencer has criticised Labour for “offensively caricaturing” working-class people by stating that they would not want a ban on greyhound racing in England.
- The government has refused to pay for over half of the compensation claims made by victims of the Windrush scandal.
- More than half of British voters would choose to rejoin the EU in a hypothetical future referendum, according to new research.
We’ll bring you the latest developments on the Mandelson scandal, and other political stories, throughout the day…
Explore more on these topics
Q&A
What are the consequences of the Mandelson vetting failure for Keir Starmer?
The failure in Mandelson's vetting process has led to significant pressure on Starmer, with expectations of accountability during upcoming parliamentary hearings.
Who is Olly Robbins and why is he appearing before MPs?
Olly Robbins is a former Foreign Office official who resigned due to the fallout from the Mandelson vetting failures and is set to testify before a committee of MPs.
What did the Prime Minister say about the Mandelson vetting situation?
The Prime Minister expressed that he was 'staggered' and 'furious' about not being informed of the vetting recommendation, calling the lack of communication unforgivable.
