Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has accused Labour MPs of a ‘cover-up’ (Image: PA)
Kemi Badenoch has slammed Labour MPs for their part in a “cover-up” over the Peter Mandelson scandal. The Tory leader lashed out after they voted against a sleaze inquiry into whether Sir Keir Starmer lied to Parliament about his appointment of the shamed Peer as US ambassador.
Writing for the Express, Mrs Badenoch said the Government and Labour Party’s credibility has now “completely disappeared”. “Labour MPs chose to become part of the Peter Mandelson cover-up,” she said following Tuesday’s Commons vote. “At the orders of Keir Starmer, Labour MPs conspired to vote down an investigation into the Prime Minister misleading Parliament, despite there being clear evidence that’s exactly what he’s done.”
In a blazing attack, Mrs Badenoch said the “sordid affair” had gone far beyond Lord Mandelson’s appointment, insisting it is “now about honesty, integrity and accountability”.
Labour has put “party before country,” she added.
MPs voted against launching an investigation into whether the PM misled Parliament by 223 to 335, majority 112.
The Tory leader’s scathing remarks came after another dramatic day in British politics in which the Prime Minister faced fresh humiliation over the scandal.
Lord Mandelson’s successor in Washington, Sir Christian Turner, reportedly said that Sir Keir was “pretty clearly on the ropes”, that his future looked “quite touch and go”, and that he could be removed by his party after the May 7 elections.
The embarrassing comments, reported by the Financial Times to have been made in February, pile further pressure on the Prime Minister, with his premiership now hanging by a thread.
Sir Keir survived a minor backbench revolt on Tuesday as MPs voted ????X??@@££ against a Privileges Committee probe into whether he misled Parliament.
In a bruising Commons encounter, MPs branded Sir Keir “out of touch” and warned that blocking scrutiny would “drag every single one of us down”.
Mrs Badenoch, who led the emergency debate, said the PM had broken government rules.
She said: “The Ministerial Code is very clear – ministers who mislead the House must correct the record, and I quote ‘at the earliest opportunity’.
“It is very obvious that what the Prime Minister said at the despatch box was not correct. It’s clear that full due process was not followed.”
Labour backbencher Emma Lewell laid bare her feelings in a devastating takedown of Sir Keir’s handling of the Lord Mandelson scandal.
She told the Commons: “I have watched this whole sorry saga play out for weeks now, like the public, I feel let down, disappointed, and I am angry.
“Peter Mandelson should never have been appointed, this was a fundamental failure of judgement.
“I feel the way that today’s vote has been handled by the Government smacks, once again, of being out of touch and disconnected from the public mood.”
Fellow Labour MP Nadia Whittome said: “I’ve listened to the Prime Minister’s arguments, and unfortunately, I am yet to be convinced that he has definitively not misled the House, even if inadvertently.”
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said the Prime Minister “chose to avoid due process” when appointing Lord Mandelson before vetting.
Sir Keir was also rocked by more evidence from key players in Lord Mandelson’s appointment.
The former head of the Foreign Office told MPs that No 10 had exerted pressure to push through the peer’s security clearance.
Sir Philip Barton also suggested that the normal process had not been followed because the appointment was announced before Lord Mandelson had been through vetting.
Sir Keir previously told Parliament that “full due process” was followed over Mandelson’s appointment, and flatly denied any pressure was put on the Foreign Office.
In another bombshell session at the Foreign Affairs Committee, Sir Keir’s ex-chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, took responsibility for the disastrous choice of envoy.
Mr McSweeney said Sir Keir “relied on my advice and I got it wrong”.
But he also admitted that No 10 had been aware of the “pros and cons” of appointing Lord Mandelson, who had longstanding ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The Labour strategist said he regretted having posed questions to Lord Mandelson himself when the ambassador pick was being made, instead of leaving it to the Cabinet Office propriety and ethics team.
Mr McSweeney initially suggested the appointment was made even though he had not believed Lord Mandelson’s replies at the time – although he later tried to clarify that his doubts had emerged months later.
He also said he believed Lord Mandelson was the best choice because Britain was “exposed” on trade after Brexit and with Donald Trump in the White House.