The UK Parliament is set to vote on Tuesday on whether to launch an investigation into Prime Minister Keir Starmer over allegations that he may have misled the House of Commons regarding the appointment of former US ambassador Peter Mandelson, according to a report by The Times.
Any such inquiry could carry serious political consequences for Starmer. While he has so far resisted calls to resign over his decision to appoint Mandelson, a finding that he knowingly misled Parliament would place him under significant pressure.
According to The Times, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, is expected to approve a request for Parliament to debate and vote on whether its committee on privileges should examine the matter.
Mandelson appointment under scrutiny
For months, the Prime Minister has faced criticism over his decision to appoint Mandelson, a controversial Labour figure with considerable political influence, who had previously been associated with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mandelson was ultimately dismissed last September. Starmer accused him of having “repeatedly lied” about the nature of his relationship with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial.
Fresh revelations
The case has gained renewed attention in recent weeks following a report by The Guardian, which revealed that the Foreign Office granted Mandelson security clearance for the ambassadorial role in January 2025, despite an opposing recommendation from the vetting committee responsible for reviewing his background.
Olly Robbins, a former senior Foreign Office official who was dismissed by Starmer after the revelations, told Parliament that he had been under “constant pressure” from Downing Street at the time of Mandelson’s appointment.
Source: cnn.gr