Starmer escapes inquiry on Mandelson vetting by a Parliament vote

Prime Minister Keir Starmer avoided a parliamentary investigation into his handling of Peter Mandelson's appointment as U.S. ambassador after a vote of 335 to 223 defeated a referral to the Privileges Committee. The debate centered on whether Starmer misled Parliament by claiming Mandelson underwent 'full due process' despite prior ties to Jeffrey Epstein and a recommendation against his appointment. Starmer maintained that the Foreign Office overruled investigators, while critics accused him of deception and the Labour leadership of suppressing scrutiny. The outcome preserves Starmer’s position, though 15 Labour MPs broke ranks in support of the inquiry.