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Mandelson failed security vetting. Starmer says he didn’t know

(933 Posts)
Primrose53 Thu 16-Apr-26 20:12:36

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2r15151xgo

Well, well, well.

MayBee70 Thu 16-Apr-26 20:27:12

So who do you want to be running the country at this moment in time?

ronib Thu 16-Apr-26 20:32:40

Yvette Cooper?

Smileless2012 Thu 16-Apr-26 20:41:46

I have to admit to being rather confused. KS said that Mandelson had been vetted so why didn't he know he'd failed? As he'd been vetted for an important post that KS was going to bestow on him, surely the Foreign Office wouldn't have the authority to tell KS Mandelson had passed if he hadn't.

eazybee Thu 16-Apr-26 20:47:09

More duplicity.
More blaming others.
Why was he incapable of asking a question?

MartavTaurus Thu 16-Apr-26 20:48:10

I agree with what Kemi Badenoch says, either KS lied or he is hopelessly incompetent.

eazybee Thu 16-Apr-26 20:51:19

Both.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 16-Apr-26 21:01:59

MartavTaurus

I agree with what Kemi Badenoch says, either KS lied or he is hopelessly incompetent.

I fear you are correct on both counts

I hoped for better…

petra Thu 16-Apr-26 21:10:36

I’ve tried to defend him on several issues but this is a step too far.
He appointed a dodgy individual who could have been vulnerable to blackmail.

Casdon Thu 16-Apr-26 21:16:39

I’m not going to defend this either.

Allira Thu 16-Apr-26 21:21:29

Oh dear.

Yvette Cooper?
Yes

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Thu 16-Apr-26 21:22:05

MartavTaurus

I agree with what Kemi Badenoch says, either KS lied or he is hopelessly incompetent.

This. 100%

Allira Thu 16-Apr-26 21:22:37

We really don't need a leadership change right now, though.

ronib Thu 16-Apr-26 21:26:00

Yes we do Allira it would definitely take the wind out of Reform’s sails. I guess you would prefer to wait until after the local elections?

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Thu 16-Apr-26 21:43:14

Boris was kicked out for attending a small birthday gathering (which he did not plan) during covid. Starmer has been mired in scandal from his earliest days, but remains in office.
How?

Allira Thu 16-Apr-26 21:46:32

ronib

Yes we do Allira it would definitely take the wind out of Reform’s sails. I guess you would prefer to wait until after the local elections?

Local elections aside, we are facing a world crisis and Starmer is dealing with it well.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Thu 16-Apr-26 21:47:59

Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, said: “Keir Starmer said in February that the security services had given Mandelson ‘clearance for the role’.

“Now we discover that he has blatantly lied, the Prime Minister should resign.”

Allira Thu 16-Apr-26 21:52:36

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, said: “Keir Starmer said in February that the security services had given Mandelson ‘clearance for the role’.

“Now we discover that he has blatantly lied, the Prime Minister should resign.”

"Well, he would say that, wouldn't he?"

Wyllow3 Thu 16-Apr-26 21:53:43

I want more details.

Yes, cross if he did know.

Not a good idea to get into Boris comparisons, he did far, far more than described above (one party, you have to be joking!) as in handouts for mates (contracts, the Chris Pincher episode, lied many times to Parliament) and got a pretty free pass from the right wing press until it got far too much.

Yes I like Yvette Cooper, always have, but not change atm.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Thu 16-Apr-26 21:57:05

Cross if Starmer did know?
Blimey
You’re easy going Wyllow.

I think the country are feeling a bit more than ‘cross’ right now.

Primrose53 Thu 16-Apr-26 21:58:03

But Starmer swept in promising he and his party would be the exact opposite of how he saw Boris. Transparent, honest, trustworthy. What a joke!

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Thu 16-Apr-26 22:00:25

He said the ‘grown ups are now in charge’.
😂😂😂

Cardamom Thu 16-Apr-26 22:03:41

I agree with what Kemi Badenoch says, either KS lied or he is hopelessly incompetent

It's perfectly possible that both are correct.

Casdon Thu 16-Apr-26 22:06:22

It’s straightforward in my mind. If it is proven he misled parliament, as Johnson was proven to have done, he must go. as Johnson had to.
The same rules should apply to all PMs, and whether people like him, hate him, or whatever, is irrelevant.
We don’t yet know the full story.

Primrose53 Thu 16-Apr-26 22:06:57

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey also says Starmer should go.