Starmer avoids ethics probe into Mandelson’s appointment but faces more pressure

LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday avoided a parliamentary inquiry into his choice of Jeffrey Epstein friend Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington, but failed to quell questions over whether he broke rules in making the controversial appointment.On Tuesday, MPs voted 335 to 223 against asking the Privileges Committee to investigate whether Starmer misled the House of Commons on a number of issues, including saying “full due process” was followed in the appointment. Starmer would resign if the committee found he had deliberately misled parliament.

Starmer criticized the inquiry led by opposition Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, saying it was a political stunt aimed at swaying voters ahead of local and regional elections on May 7. He ordered centre-left Labor MPs to oppose the inquiry, only to be met with an overwhelming rejection. Badenock said it was a sign of weakness on Starmer’s part to have to use such an order.The repercussions over Mandelson’s appointment have left Starmer fighting for his position and at loggerheads with his own civil service. Starmer is angry he was not told Mandelson failed his security clearance, and officials say they felt pressure from Starmer’s office to quickly confirm the appointment at the start of President Trump’s second term.Starmer’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney admitted on Tuesday he made a “serious mistake” in recommending Mandelson but denied pressuring officials to ignore safety concerns. “The Prime Minister took my advice and I was wrong,” McSweeney told MPs on the House of Commons foreign affairs committee. He apologized to Epstein’s victims, saying “I am deeply sorry for any part in this controversy that has caused further harm or distress.“Starmer sacked Ambassador Mandelson in September after new details emerged of his friendship with Epstein.McSweeney resigned in February, saying he was responsible for ambassadorial appointments. McSweeney said he believed Mandelson’s experience as a former EU trade commissioner would be helpful in reaching a trade deal with the Trump administration. “If Kamala Harris was elected president, I don’t think the prime minister would choose Mandelson,” McSweeney said.