17 resultsfor “Keir Starmer Peter Mandelson appointment controversy”
Keir Starmer’s administration is embroiled in turmoil amid a [calamitous local election](/news/2026/5/8/leader-of-the-pack-what-next-as-reform-makes-huge-election-gains) result for the Labour Party last week. Starmer, who has been [dogged by controversy](/news/2026/4/20/uk-pm-starmer-admits-mistaken-call-on-mandelson-rejects-calls-to-resign) over the appointment of Jeffrey Epstein
Keir Starmer. Photograph: Sean Smith/The Guardian Starmer’s problems stem from his decision in late 2024 [to appoint Peter Mandelson](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/dec/20/appointment-peter-mandelson-new-uk-ambassador-to-us-divides-labour-mps), a Labour peer and veteran of successive governments, as ambassador in Washington
Keir Starmer misled parliament over the appointment of [Peter Mandelson](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/peter-mandelson) as ambassador to Washington, Ed Davey has said. The Liberal Democrat leader called for the prime minister to be investigated
Keir Starmer is looking increasingly isolated over his handling of the [Peter Mandelson](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/peter-mandelson) scandal with divisions emerging in cabinet over his decision to sack the Foreign Office civil servant Olly Robbins.”  as the UK’s ambassador to the US before he was security vetted for the role, one of Keir Starmer’s senior ministers has said before the prime minister
Starmer, who is mired in controversy. "He still has monumental questions to answer in the House of Commons about what he knew about [Peter Mandelson's vetting situation](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0kryzd8l7no). "If he has misled
Peter Mandelson’s vetting process with the parliamentary committee tasked with deciding if they should be made public. In February, MPs passed a binding parliamentary motion, known as a humble address, requiring the government
appointment. The motion made an exception for papers prejudicial to national security or international relations, which it said should be released to the intelligence and security committee (ISC). , when he was dismissed from his role on Thursday. Robbins was sacked hours after the Guardian revealed that Peter Mandelson [failed his security vetting](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/17/keir-starmer-kept-in-dark-peter-mandelson-vetting-two-top-civil-servants) in January
Peter Mandelson’s links to Jeffery Epstein – and said there was “absolutely” pressure from Downing Street over the pace of vetting. Giving evidence to the foreign affairs select committee, the former Foreign Office permanent secretary
Keir Starmer has said it was “unforgivable” that he was not told that [Peter Mandelson](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/peter-mandelson) had failed his security vetting before being appointed as ambassador to Washington. The prime minister said
Keir Starmer is facing a tough stress test. His Labour Party on Thursday will battle local and devolved elections under mounting political pressure. Voters across England, Wales and Scotland are expected to deliver Labour their
Keir saying again and again he's angry, when that's exactly how the public feels about him!" The prime minister's original decision to give Peter Mandelson the US ambassadorship, one of the best
Keir’s Starmer’s decision to sack Olly Robbins as the Foreign Office’s top official over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal as they warned him not to [alienate the civil service](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/21/anger-whitehall-civil-service-olly-robbins-sacked-keir-starmer),
Peter Mandelson’s associations with senior figures in China, Russia and Israel were among the concerns raised by the UK’s vetting agency when it concluded he should be denied clearance, multiple sources have told