Keir Starmer faces emergency debate on Lord Mandelson appointment in just hours

Sir Keir Starmer will face an emergency debate on Lord Mandelson's appointment as the UK's Ambassador to the US following an application by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.The Prime Minister was today hit with a barrage of criticism from MPs across the House of Commons after it emerged that Lord Mandelson did not pass security vetting. Mrs Badenoch, who said "serious questions [remain] about what he knew and when" and warned the Prime Minister had "serious inconsistencies" in his position, had her pitch accepted by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle. The debate is expected to start at around 12.30pm on Tuesday, shortly after ex-Foreign Office mandarin Sir Olly Robbins provides evidence to MPs. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Sir Keir, who defiantly dismissed calls to resign, was accused of throwing Foreign Office officials under the bus after the Prime Minister shifted the blame to mandarins over Lord Mandelson's vetting."It beggars belief that throughout the whole timeline of events,

News Apr 20, 2026 0 1 Add to Reading List

Keir Starmer faces emergency debate on Lord Mandelson appointment in just hours

Sir Keir Starmer will face an emergency debate on Lord Mandelson's appointment as the UK's Ambassador to the US following an application by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

The Prime Minister was today hit with a barrage of criticism from MPs across the House of Commons after it emerged that Lord Mandelson did not pass security vetting.

Mrs Badenoch, who said "serious questions [remain] about what he knew and when" and warned the Prime Minister had "serious inconsistencies" in his position, had her pitch accepted by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

The debate is expected to start at around 12.30pm on Tuesday, shortly after ex-Foreign Office mandarin Sir Olly Robbins provides evidence to MPs.

Sir Keir, who defiantly dismissed calls to resign, was accused of throwing Foreign Office officials under the bus after the Prime Minister shifted the blame to mandarins over Lord Mandelson's vetting.

"It beggars belief that throughout the whole timeline of events, officials in the Foreign Office saw fit to withhold this information from the most senior ministers in our system in Government," Sir Keir told MPs.

"That is not how the vast majority of people in this country expect politics, Government, or accountability to work. And I do not think it is how most public servants think it should work, either."

However, the Prime Minister was met with a chorus of laughter after describing key facts surrounding Lord Mandelson's appointment as "incredible".