Kemi Badenoch: Starmer should face serious consequences if dishonest about Mandelson

Words by ITV News Producer, Kieran Carter

The leader of the opposition has said the prime minister should face serious consequences if he lied to parliament about the appointment process of Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to Washington.

Speaking on Tuesday at an emergency debate, Kemi Badenoch said the row risked "overshadowing" the US state visit, now just hours away, calling it a "complete disaster for Keir Starmer."

Mandelson was sacked as British ambassador last week, after emails and documents came to light revealing his close relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

His appointment and subsequent removal from office have raised several questions about the processes involved in his appointment.

"This is a complete disaster for Keir Starmer," said Kemi Badenoch.

Veteran MP Sir David Davis raised the debate in parliament to seek clarity over what the prime minister knew during the appointment procedure.

“It’s long been clear he was not suitable for being our ambassador. So the question is, what changed last week?” he questioned.

The MP for Goole and Pocklington spoke at length on his concerns over Mandelson, giving way to multiple interventions from colleagues throughout.

Speaking to broadcasters on Monday, Stamer insisted Mandelson had gone through a “proper due diligence process” before being given the role. But he added: “Had I known then what I know now, I’d have never appointed him.”

But on Tuesday, Badenoch was quick to point the finger at what she viewed as double standards from the prime minister.

“On his own benchmark, I remember Keir Starmer going after Boris Johnson and setting a standard. All I’m asking is that he meet the very same standard which he was setting for other people - Has he been honest with the public?"

She went on to say: “This should have been a visit strengthening UK-US relations. But because of Keir Starmer’s bad judgment appointing Peter Mandelson it appears, according to newspaper reports, against security concerns, having to lose him because of his close friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

“I think that this has been a complete disaster for Keir Starmer."

Addressing the House in Tuesday's debate, Badenoch called on the prime minister to do three things as a matter of urgency.

“The Prime Minister needs to come clean about what he knew and when he knew it, not send his junior ministers to cover for him," she said.

“The Prime Minister needs to publish the Mandelson-Epstein files in full.

“The Prime Minister needs to take responsibility for the appointment of Lord Mandelson as ambassador to Washington," she finished.

Kemi Badenoch accused the prime minister of presiding over a series of political scandals, the likes of which he had promised to eradicate.

Her intervention comes the same day as the Foreign Affairs Select Committee published a letter from the new Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, claiming the Foreign Office was not consulted before Peter Mandelson's appointment.

In response, Ms Cooper wrote a letter to the Committee chair, Emily Thornberry, and said: "The Propriety and Ethics Team in the Cabinet Office (PET) conducted a due diligence process, prior to the announcement of Peter Mandelson’s appointment on 20 December 2024 at the request of Number 10.

"The FCDO was not asked to contribute to that process and no issues were raised with the FCDO as a result of this process. This was not a security check."

Speaking in the Commons today, Dame Thornberry said mistakes "obviously have been made," explaining whilst last week's revelations may not have been in the public domain, Mandelson's relationship with Epstein was widely known.

“Had my committee had the opportunity to question Lord Mandelson, I’m confident that our members would have raised a range of questions," she added.

"It would have all been in the public sphere, it would have been on the record, Lord Mandelson would have had the opportunity to tell the truth before the House.”

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