Starmer survives Parliament vote, avoids ethics probe over Mandelson row

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer survived a crucial Parliament vote blocking an ethics inquiry into the Mandelson appointment row. While the motion was defeated, the controversy continues to cast a shadow over his leadership ahead of local elections

London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday won a crucial Parliament vote as MPs voted against a motion calling for him to face an ethics inquiry into his conduct.

Members of Parliament voted 335 to 223 against a Privileges Committee investigation into whether he had misled the House of Commons over the appointment of disgraced peer Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US.

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The Labour MPs had been directed to vote with the government, attracting some criticism from backbenchers who may have otherwise voted with the Opposition on the motion.

“I have responsibility for being totally transparent with you, with parliament and the British public. I take that very seriously as well,” Starmer told the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) ahead of the vote.

“But this is not about a lack of transparency. This is a political stunt by our opponents who want to bring us down, obscure our message, stop us getting on with our work. And the timing tells you everything nine days before local elections… we need to stand together against it,” he said.

The UK PM has faced considerable pressure for months due to the controversy surrounding his appointment of Mandelson despite known links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

He has apologised to the Commons for the decision and told Parliament that “full due process” was followed in vetting the peer for the key diplomatic role last year.

However, the Opposition parties accused him of misleading the House with such claims and demanded a probe that could have led to his resignation if found to have misled Parliament.

“Every MP voting on this motion today will need to examine their conscience on all sides of the house,” Conservative

Party leader Kemi Badenoch said during the debate that preceded Tuesday’s vote.

“If they vote against this motion, would they rather be on the side of Peter Mandelson, of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein,” she said.

The parliamentary vote came at the end of a day dominated by the scandal, with Starmer’s former top aide appearing before the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee to reiterate that he took full responsibility for the “serious mistake” of appointing Mandelson.

“Sometimes as an adviser you make advice and the Prime Minister goes with you and that’s what happened this time, I’m taking responsibility for the advice,” said Morgan McSweeney, who had resigned as Starmer’s chief of staff earlier this year as a fallout of the issue.

The UK PM will heave a sigh of relief at the close of parliamentary proceedings, but his leadership remains under strain as the country heads for local elections next week. The governing Labour Party is expected to take a beating at the ballot box amid a cost-of-living crisis intensified by the US-Iran conflict, piling added pressure on Starmer’s hold over 10 Downing Street.