MPs to vote on whether to hold inquiry into Starmer over Mandelson

The Tories have accused Starmer of misleading the house by saying ‘full due process’ was followed during the appointment process. Photograph: House of Commons/AFP/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenThe Tories have accused Starmer of misleading the house by saying ‘full due process’ was followed during the appointment process. Photograph: House of Commons/AFP/Getty ImagesKeir StarmerMPs to vote on whether to hold inquiry into Starmer over MandelsonCommons speaker grants application for vote on investigation into whether prime minister misled MPs UK politics live – latest updates Pippa Crerar and Kiran StaceyMon 27 Apr 2026 12.45 EDTFirst published on Mon 27 Apr 2026 09.07 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleKeir Starmer will face a vote on whether to launch a standards investigation into his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington, prompting senior party figures to call for restraint from Labour MPs.The speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, has granted a debate on Tuesday after which MPs could vote to refer the prime minister to the privileges committee over claims he misled parliament over his decision.The vote would be the latest test of Starmer’s authority, which has been damaged by the Guardian’s revelation Mandelson was installed as ambassador despite the advice of vetting officials that he be denied security clearance.No 10 publishes previously confidential memo to refute claim that Starmer misled MPs over Mandelson appointment – UK politics liveRead moreGovernment whips are considering whether to instruct Labour MPs to oppose any attempt to refer the prime minister to the committee – with senior figures accusing the Conservatives of political point scoring.The former prime minister Gordon Brown said: “At challenging times both for our country and the world, the Labour party has always sought to put the needs of the country first. With conflicts raging around the world with profound consequences for our country, this is the time to do so.“Whatever the parliamentary games at Westminster, what the country expects of everyone in Labour is to focus on the priorities of the British people, which is what Keir Starmer is doing and for which he deserves all our support.”The speaker told the Commons on Monday that “numerous” MPs from different parties – understood to include Labour – had written to him about the issue. “My role is to decide whether an [MP] has made a case which the house itself should be able to consider, not to decide whether someone is likely to have committed a contempt,” he said.“I’ve decided to allow the house to come to a view on whether the committee of privileges should look at the matter. It is not for me to make any decision or view.”The Tories have accused the prime minister of misleading MPs when he said “full due process” had been followed during the appointment process. Knowingly misleading parliament is considered a resigning offence for ministers, and a privileges committee investigation in 2023 prompted Boris Johnson’s resignation as an MP. No 10 argues that Starmer was commenting on the facts he had available to him at the time.Opposition parties have pointed to a memo from Simon Case, the former cabinet secretary, who appeared to advise Starmer to complete security vetting for Mandelson before announcing an appointment. The Guardian understands, however, that Case may have been advising him simply to begin the process.The Conservatives have also accused Starmer of misleading MPs by suggesting…

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