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

Mollygo

^Moreover, Starmer still hasn't found himself an efficient Director of Communications, who would be responsible for PR and let the pubic know what's going on.^
Yes it would be good for someone to get to the bottom of things. But KS himself is not overly clear on pubic affairs.

Blimey Mollygo did you want him to be clear on your last words in the post? 😂😂😂

Casdon

Just to remind you of what you actually said Cardamon

‘I seem to recall Starmer calling it a "transparency revolution" aimed at "cleaning up politics" and restoring standards in public life. It's going well so far “

Starmer mishandled the Mandelson case but that does not mean no progress has been made in improving transparency and cleaning up politics, does it? Perhaps a less sweeping indictment would have been more fitting.

Only a real Starmer Babe could conclude that he’s doing well on any front.
He’s been an unmitigated disaster as has Rachel Reeves.After waiting 14 years to see Labour back in power I am disappointed and disgusted with him.

What are you talking about Oreo? Read my posts, I have been quite clear that I think Starmer is accountable. Sometimes it is impossible to have a reasoned discussion because people sont read threads.

Iam64

Casdon, please continue your calm, well informed posts

Yes, please.

Moreover, Starmer still hasn't found himself an efficient Director of Communications, who would be responsible for PR and let the pubic know what's going on.

Mollygo
Yes it would be good for someone to get to the bottom of things. But KS himself is not overly clear on pubic affairs.

Mamie

Blimey Mollygo did you want him to be clear on your last words in the post? 😂😂😂

Oh dear, don't say you thought that was a pile of speech or writing that is silly or not true?
I was quoting a previous poster -and it seemed appropriate.

I’m not a ‘real Starmer babe’. Pretty insulting comment in response to attempts to seriously debate significant issues.
I admired Starmer’s legal and cps work.

Like many, I believe the attempts to improve our benefit system and Pip were astonishingly badly managed though I still support the principles
Starmer is t a seasoned politician, there are times when it would help if he was

a ‘real Starmer babe’.

My imagination is running wild!
😂

Just attempts to provoke!

(sail on by attention seeking provocation)

Cardamom

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

It's perfectly possible that both are correct.

It's also possible, with Ms Badenoch's history, that neither are.

Oreo

twaddle

This article from the Institute for Government explains the vetting process:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/government-security-vetting

This is an extract for anybody who doesn't want to read the whole thing:

"It is worth noting that in the case of Peter Mandelson, security clearance was granted by foreign office officials. It appears that this was against the advice of UK Security Vetting; it was within the power of foreign office officials to make that decision."

In other words, Mandelson "didn't" fail vetting.

So why was he summarily sacked on Thursday?

Mandelson wasn't sacked on Thursday. From what I can remember, he was sacked as a result of revelations about his relationship with Epstein, which apparently was not why UKSV had concerns.

If you mean Robbins, he was sacked because Starmer disagreed with Robbin's decision to act without consulting him. It would appear that Mandelson was "borderline" and Robbins (and only Robbins) decided that mitigations could be put in place to address the security risk.

This is getting a bit tiresome. People are just making it up as they go along to suit their own agenda.

DaisyAnneReturns

Cardamom

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

It's perfectly possible that both are correct.

It's also possible, with Ms Badenoch's history, that neither are.

It is most certainly possible that neither is correct. Ms Badenoch is in her element accusing people and calling them names. As you say, DaisyAnnReturns, she has history.

Every single leader is raising concerns about Starmer, not just Badenoch, and to be honest if the shoe was on the other foot Starmer would be behaving in exactly the same way if Badenoch had appointed mandelsson.
If you don't want to be in this position, don't appoint a twice sacked minister with known links to the most famous paedophile in the world.
My smpathy is limited.

Well they would, wouldn’t they?

So why wasn't the alarm raised at the time of his appointment?

It seems extraordinary that there was very little opposition when he was appointed - and, yes, most people did know Mandelson's history. The alarm is only being raised now because there was some kind of procedural c*ck up.

Incidentally, why wasn't the leader of Reform in Parliament to have his say?

Because child safeguarding isn't that much of a priority for people? Becausr people lose their minds when faced with Trump? I have no idea.

Incidentally, why wasn't the leader of Reform in Parliament to have his say?

Farage hasn’t made a contribution to a HoC debate since 25 March when he was banging on about small boats again after which all Reform MPs walked out.

Cynics would say it was a planned performance because they knew that Steve Reed was due to announce a ban on crypto donations later in the session and they didn’t want to be there for that.

Correct me if I’m wrong but having scanned Parliament Live TV for the hot debates over the last few days and PMQs. I can’t see Farage there at all. I think he’s travelling around doing his tent shows like the fairground huckster he is.

Despite popular belief, I don’t think the furore over Starmer plays into Farage’s hands at all. Worse case scenario, there’s a vote of no confidence and a snap election leaving Farage with his pants down. He knows his party, were they to win, would be in no position to govern nor would he able to do the job of Prime Minister. It’s long been my belief that he will run away before 2029.

Would Farage have been the centre of attention on that day?
No.
Was that why he didn't bother to attend?

It looks as though Starmer will be keeping his job for now as there is nobody suitable to replace him.
One MP said that Starmer was finished now and would not be there at the next GE so no need to rush for the time being.
Others are saying that had Andy Burnham been in government Starmer would have been ousted before now. They think Burnham would be a likely candidate for PM.
Sadly I think Starmer's days as PM are numbered now.

It’s long been my belief that he will run away before 2029

Perhaps he'll become an ex pat?

We already know that Ed Miliband and Yvette Cooper no longer support KS. Dan Hodges reports that Pat McFadden, David Lammy, Shabana Mahmood, Wes Streeting and Rachel Reeves have also turned against him.

No. people are not ;making it up as it goes along'; they are desperately trying to understand what is going on. Many differing accounts and interpretations. I watched the interrogation of Oliver Robbins and was exhausted simply trying to concentrate . Starmer made a grave mistake in sacking him, not least in the way he did it. Robbins struck me as a man of integrity , extremely competent, with a forensic brain, which Starmer increasingly reveals as his term progresses, he lacks.
I believe there are calls for him to appear before a Privilege committee, which would be excellent, but undoubtedly won't happen. He can't cope with less than an hour of PMQs.
And as for 'Starmer's babes' you are definitely barking up the wrong tree.

Primrose53

We already know that Ed Miliband and Yvette Cooper no longer support KS. Dan Hodges reports that Pat McFadden, David Lammy, Shabana Mahmood, Wes Streeting and Rachel Reeves have also turned against him.

Fantastic. Everybody hates Starmer. Result.

There you go.

Primrose53

We already know that Ed Miliband and Yvette Cooper no longer support KS. Dan Hodges reports that Pat McFadden, David Lammy, Shabana Mahmood, Wes Streeting and Rachel Reeves have also turned against him.

The rats always leave the sinking ship. I think senior civil servants are very upset over the Robbins sacking which will make working relations difficult. The MPs would rather support them than Starmer who I think made a huge mistake sacking Robbins.

When is it leaving a sinking ship and when is it a decision in the best interests of the party ( I am not commenting either way but I imagine that will be how some of those names see it) . The labour party have never been particularly effective at ousting a leader, some may see that as a strength and some may see it as a weakness.

Cat Little is giving evidence to the FAC now and while only a few minutes in (the video can be rewound) is explaining what happened with great clarity.

parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/19ce63b7-d897-4435-b44b-08b08393734a