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Starmer says Mandelson has been stripped of role as privy counsellorKemi Badenoch says all MPs will be disgusted by the latest Jeffrey Epstein revelations. But the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as an ambassador reflects on the PM’s judgment. Was he aware that Mandelson had continued his friendship with Epstein after Epstein’s first conviction?Starmer says Mandelson betrayed his country and his party by leaking secrets. He lied before the appointment process. The government has referred him to the police. He says he has asked officials to draft legislation to stop Mandelson of his title.This morning he has agreed with the king that Mandelson will be removed from the list of privy counsellors.UPDATE: Starmer said:
To learn that there was a cabinet minister leaking sensitive information at the height of the response to the 2008 crash is beyond infuriating, and I am as angry as the public and any member of this House – Mandelson betrayed our country, our parliament and my party.
He lied repeatedly to my team when asked about his relationship with Epstein before and during his tenure as ambassador. I regret appointing him.
If I knew then what I know now, he would never have been anywhere near government.
That is why, yesterday the cabinet secretary, with my support, took the decision to refer material to the police, and there is now a criminal investigation.
I have instructed my team to draft legislation to strip Mandelson of his title and wider legislation to remove disgraced peers, and this morning, I have agreed with His Majesty the King that Mandelson should be removed from the list of privy counsellors on grounds that has brought the reputation of the privy council into disrepute.
ShareUpdated at 12.49 GMTKey eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureBurghart said a report in the New Statesman today says a due diligence report on Peter Mandelson before he was appointed ambassador highlighted various conflicts of interest.He is referring to this story by Ailbhe Rea. She says:
The report on Mandelson warned of potential conflicts of interest surrounding Global Counsel, the lobbying company Mandelson co-founded, in which he had a 28 per cent stake (worth about £8.5m). It highlighted the company’s clients, in particular Russian and Chinese links, according to someone familiar with the report’s contents …
And then there was a section on Epstein. Sources familiar with the report confirm that it clearly stated that Mandelson’s relationship with the paedophile continued after his conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution. It contained links to photographs of Mandelson with the paedophile, and drew particular attention to evidence that Mandelson had stayed at Epstein’s apartment while he was in prison. It was sent directly to the prime minister.
The cabinet secretary, Chris Wormald, was asked about the report in November and told MPs that it contained “a summary of reputational risks” associated with appointing Mandelson, including his “prior relationship with Jeffrey Epstein”.
Yet “Morgan [McSweeney, the PM’s chief of staff] was relaxed” when he saw the report, according to one person who observed him at the time, because the chief of staff said that Labour had already broached a conversation with Mandelson about these issues years before. (A No 10 source disputes this characterisation, emphasising that the prime minister and McSweeney followed up on details raised by the report.)
ShareMPs debate Tory motion calling for release of files relating to Mandelson’s appointment as ambassadorMPs are now debating the Tory motion on Peter Mandelson.Alex Burghart, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, started by saying that Keir Starmer knew full well about Peter Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein’s first child sex conviction. He says, not only had the FT published it; journalists had even told Starmer about it, he says.ShareI have beefed up some of the earlier posts with direct quotes from the Starmer/Badenoch exchanges. You may need to refresh the page to get the updates to appear.SharePMQs – snap verdictThat felt like a preview of the debate that is just starting now. And it may even turn out to be spikier, which is being opened by Alex Burghart, the shadow Cabinet Office minister. Keir Starmer is on the defensive, he knows it, and he came armed with at least two nuggets of news intended to blunt the Tory attack: an announcement about Peter Mandelson adding the privy counsel to the list of organisations that has know kicked him out, and a reference to the police warning Downing Street about the risk of prejudicial material being disclosed. The latter was a not-so-subtle hint to MPs about the danger of passing the Tory motion about the release of Mandelson files without the Labour amendment exempting some documents.But none of this was enough to blunt the force of Badenoch’s main point – which was that appointing Mandelson as an ambassador when he knew that Mandelson had remained friends with Jeffrey Epstein after his first child sex conviction was a colossal mistake.And of course Starmer knew. It had been in the Financial Times.FT Mandelson story from 2023 Photograph: FTGiven that Starmer himself now realises what a terrible error appointing Mandelson was, it is not surprising that Badenoch’s arguments about this carried the day.ShareDavid Davis, the former Tory cabinet minster, says today’s debate on Peter Mandelson will not covere his relationship with Oleg Deripaska. He says this was just as bad as the relationship with Jeffrey Epstein because Deripaska is also an alleged paedophile, murderer, gangster, specialist in bribery and corruption, and Putin favourite. He says that, as EU trade commissioner, Mandelson took decisions that favoured Deripaska’s companies.Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker, says Davis is an experienced MP and will be able to find other ways of raising this.ShareSuella Braverman, the former Tory home secretary who defected to Reform UK, gets the final question. She asks about a rape gang survivor. Her first rapist was convicted. But she was then abused by a police officer who remains on active service, she says. She asks if the PM will meet the survivor to hear her story.Starmer says he is “deeply concerned” about what Braverman has said, and he will arrange a meeting.ShareChristine Jardine (Lib Dem) asks if helpline will be set up to support women triggered by the Jeffrey Epstein stories.Starmer says the govenment is continuing its work on tackling violence against women and girls.ShareLayla Moran (Lib Dem) says her residents in Oxford West and Abingdon are sick of being let down by Thames Water. Will he admit that Thames Water should be “put out of its misery” and turned into a company for public benefit.Starmer says if necessary the government will go further in taking control over the company.ShareNeil Hudson (Con) asks about migrants being housed in the Bell hotel in his Epping constituency.Starmer says the government is committed to ending the use of all asylum hotels.ShareCharlie Dewhirst (Con) asks if Starmer was ever instructed by Phil Shiner to act in any public interest case relating to Iraq.Starmer says, as soon as there were allegations about Shiner, he has “absolutely nothing to do with him”.That was a reference to this Telegraph story last week.ShareStarmer sidesteps question about whether he agrees with Polish PM about Epstein being possible Russian spyEd Davey, the Lib Dem leader, says Starmer has admitted that he knew Mandelson’s links with Epstein continued after his conviction. Did the PM think about the victims when he appointed Mandelson?Starmer says he expressed concern the victims in his opening statement today.Davey calls for a public inquiry. The Polish governemnt think Epstein may have been spying for the Russians. Does the PM worry that Mandelson may have been leaking to a Russian agent?Starmer says the criminal investigation will follow the evidence wherever it goes.ShareStarmer confirms he still has confidence in Morgan McSweeneyBadenoch says the cabinet secretary is not independent.She says the PM should agree to the ISC deciding what gets released.And she asks if Starmer still has confidence in Morgan McSweeney, the Downing Street chief of staff.Starmer says of course he has confidence in McSweeney.And he criticises Badenoch for questioning the integrity of the cabinet secretary, Chris Wormald.ShareUpdated at 12.20 GMTBadenoch says the national security problem was Mandelson being appointed in the first place.She claims humble addresses already include a national security exemption.And she says the PM has included an international relations exemption – when the whole appointment was about international relations.She asks if the PM will agree to the intelligence and security committee (ISC) deciding what should be released.Starmer says the cabinet secretary will decide what gets released.And he says only material prejudicial to international relations will be excluded – not all material relating to international relations.He says Badenoch does seem to have accepted the first exemption, on national security.ShareUpdated at 12.18 GMTBadenoch says Starmer’s reply was “shocking”.She asks if Starmer can guarantee that Labour MPs who vote against the government today won’t lose the whip.Starmer says when he was in opposition and tabled humble address motions, he always included exemptions for national security.UPDATE: Badenoch said:
How can he stand up there saying that he knew, but he just asked Peter Mandelson if the security vetting was true or false? This is a man who had been sacked from Cabinet twice already for unethical behaviour.
That is absolutely shocking, and that is why later today, my party will call on the government to release all documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment. Not just the ones the prime minister wants us to see.
Because this government is trying to sabotage that release with an amendment to let him choose what we see. Labour MPs now have to decide if they want to be accessories to his cover up. Can the prime minister guarantee that he won’t remove the whip if they refuse to vote for his whitewash amendment?
And Starmer replied:
The first exemption is in relation to anything that could compromise national security. That is not a small matter, and many members on the benches opposite will know precisely why that needs to be in the exemption.
The second exemption is in relation to things that would prejudice international relations. There will be discussions about security and intelligence and trade which are highly sensitive to the two countries involved and to third countries.
ShareUpdated at 12.48 GMTStarmer confirms he knew, when appointing Mandelson ambassador, he had remained friends with Epstein after his convictionBadenoch says Starmer should have known Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein continued after Epstein was convicted. It was “on Google”, she says.Starmer says it was known that the friendship continued, and that is why Mandelson was asked about it duing vetting. Mandelson misrepresented the friendship, he says.UPDATE: Badenoch said:
The prime minister cannot blame the process. He did know, it was on Google. If the Conservative research department could find this information out, why couldn’t Number 10?
On 10 September, when we knew this, I asked him at that despatch box, he gave Mandelson his full confidence at that despatch box, not once, but twice. He only sacked him after pressure from us.
Can the prime minister tell us did the official security vetting he received mention Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein?
Starmer replied:
Yes it did. As a result, various questions were put to him.
I intend to disclose to this House all of the – national security prejudice to international relations on one side – I want to make sure this House sees the full documentation so it will see for itself the extent to which time and time again Mandelson completely misrepresented the extent of his relationship with Epstein and lied throughout the process, including in response to the due diligence.
ShareUpdated at 12.46 GMTStarmer does not deny knowing that Mandelson stayed friends with Epstein after his first child sex convictionBadenoch says Starmer did not answer the question. Did he know Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein has continued.Starmer says he did not know the extent of that friendship.(It is a matter of public record that the friendship continued, because the FT ran a story about Mandelson staying in Epstein’s flat after the first convicton.)He says he accepts the Tory humble address, with exemptions.But he says the police have been in touch with No 10 to make sure material prejudicial to a trial is not released.UPDATE: Starmer said:
What was not known was the depth, the sheer depth and the extent of the relationship. He lied about that to everyone for years, and new information was published in September showing the relationship was materially different from what we’d been led to believe. When the new information came to light, I sacked him …
So I can be totally open with the house, I should also disclose that the Metropolitan police have been in touch with my office this morning to raise issues about anything that would prejudice their investigations. We’re in discussion with them about that, and I hope to be able to update the house, but I do think I should make that clear.
ShareUpdated at 12.34 GMTStarmer says Mandelson has been stripped of role as privy counsellorKemi Badenoch says all MPs will be disgusted by the latest Jeffrey Epstein revelations. But the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as an ambassador reflects on the PM’s judgment. Was he aware that Mandelson had continued his friendship with Epstein after Epstein’s first conviction?Starmer says Mandelson betrayed his country and his party by leaking secrets. He lied before the appointment process. The government has referred him to the police. He says he has asked officials to draft legislation to stop Mandelson of his title.This morning he has agreed with the king that Mandelson will be removed from the list of privy counsellors.UPDATE: Starmer said:
To learn that there was a cabinet minister leaking sensitive information at the height of the response to the 2008 crash is beyond infuriating, and I am as angry as the public and any member of this House – Mandelson betrayed our country, our parliament and my party.
He lied repeatedly to my team when asked about his relationship with Epstein before and during his tenure as ambassador. I regret appointing him.
If I knew then what I know now, he would never have been anywhere near government.
That is why, yesterday the cabinet secretary, with my support, took the decision to refer material to the police, and there is now a criminal investigation.
I have instructed my team to draft legislation to strip Mandelson of his title and wider legislation to remove disgraced peers, and this morning, I have agreed with His Majesty the King that Mandelson should be removed from the list of privy counsellors on grounds that has brought the reputation of the privy council into disrepute.
ShareUpdated at 12.49 GMTJohanna Baxter (Lab) refers to the government’s Pride in Place programme, and accuses the SNP of not supporting it. This has led Paisley down, she says.Starmer says Baxter is a super champion for Paisley. He says 14 Scottish communities have benefited from the Pride in Place programme.ShareKeir Starmer starts by saying it is world cancer day, and the national cancer plan is being published. He says it will lead to faster diagnosis and treatment. And treatment-related costs for child cancer patients will be covered.Share
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