UK PM insists he won’t resign over Mandelson scandal
Starmer’s remarks in parliament came as he faced fresh calls to step down over his admitted error of judgment in appointing Mandelson
Starmer’s remarks in parliament came as the beleaguered premier faced fresh calls to step down over his admitted error of judgment in appointing veteran former politician Peter Mandelson to the coveted post.
The premier spoke to lawmakers a day after the foreign ministry’s most senior official, Olly Robbins, gave evidence to a parliamentary committee having been fired by Starmer over the affair last week.
Starmer has accused Robbins of failing to tell him about problems that emerged during Mandelson’s security clearance.
He has repeatedly insisted that despite previously stating that “all due process” had been followed he would not have allowed the appointment to proceed if he had known that independent vetting officials had recommended security clearance be denied.
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Starmer told MPs that Robbins clearly answered “no” when asked if he had shared the recommendation “with me, number 10 or any other ministers”.